Derek Drouin is Canada’s third gold medallist in Rio de Janeiro after winning the men’s high jump competition on Tuesday night.
Drouin, the 26-year-old from Corunna, Ont., made all six of his jumps, one at each of the heights attempted. He won when Bogdan Bondarenko missed three straight attempts, two at 2.38 metres and one at 2.40. Drouin was the only competitor to clear 2.38, which tied his season best.
Drouin also won gold at the world championships in Beijing in 2015.
Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar won silver by clearing 2.36 metres. Bondarenko earned silver as the jumper who cleared 2.33 with the fewest misses.
Drouin was a bronze medallist at London 2012 after missing three times at 2.33. Defending 2012 champion Ivan Ukhov, who won with a jump of 2.38, was not in Rio because of Russia’s blanket track and field ban. The 2012 silver medallist, Erik Kynard of the U.S. finished sixth on Tuesday.
Drouin joins swimmer Penny Oleksiak and trampoline athlete Rosie MacLennan as Canada’s gold medallists in Rio.
More to come …
