'Don't know why my world record still stands after 32 years'

For 32 years, Javier Sotomayor has stood at the pinnace of high jump alone. The Cuban great not only remains the only high jumper to scale eight feet - he has done that twice - he is also the holder of one of the oldest standing world records in athletics. In India for the Ekamra Sports Literature Festival, the 58-year-old double Olympic medallist opened up on his self-taught technique, his visualisation routine, and his longstanding world mark. Excerpts:

- Shantanu Srivastava

What does owning the high jump world record for 32 years mean to you?

It's a very special achievement that has stood the test of time. What really helped me is that I lived in the best era of high jump in the world.

I had a lot of world class competitors in Patrik Sjoberg (Sweden) and Hollis Conway (USA), and they were no flukes. They jumped well all year round. I was lucky to be living and competing in that era and to have such wonderful competitors. We always pushed each other which is what helped me achieve the maximum that I could.

I don't know why my record hasn't been broken yet given the advancements in biomechanics and training technology. I know how I could break the world record in my time, but I don't have an answer as to why mine hasn't been broken in all these years. In the current lot, if anyone can break my world record, it'll be Mutaz Barshim. He's not at his best of late, but he can definitely get better and come close. He is a real threat at his best. He can come closest to me. Having said that, age matters in high jump.

How did sport happen to you?