Javier Sotomayor, the world’s best, missed the Seoul Games through
yet another (smaller) boycott, leaving the ’87 World Championship
medallists – Sjöberg, Paklin and Avdyeyenko – as the most plausible
gold medal candidates. The finest competition yet saw 12 men clear
2.31, with six of those making 2.34, the most prominent failure at 2.34
being Paklin.
Defending champion Mögenburg cleared 2.34, but looked near his
limit for the day, and failed at his next heights, losing fifth place on
countback to Nick Saunders of Bermuda. Avdyeyenko, 1983 World
Champion, was perfect to 2.38, and led from the surprising Conway,
who made 2.36 first time, as compared to second-time clearances for
former world record holders Sjöberg and Povarnitsyn. The top six all
had at least two attempts at 2.38, with Avdyeyenko grazing the bar on
his clearance having missed on his first attempt at the winning height.
Avdyeyenko then had one attempt at 2.40 and two more at 2.44.
URS
USA
SWE
BER
FRG
GBR
POL
ITA
ESP
TCH
ROM
BAH
CHA
CAN
KOR
CHN
ARG
BUR
