For several years, British high jump has struggled to reach the heights of its past glories. However, the emergence of Otis Poole and Ethan Glyde, two young prodigies, could mark the beginning of a new era for the discipline. Both have delivered outstanding performances in recent months, embodying a new generation determined to restore Britain’s status on the international stage.
A Mixed Past for British High Jump
While British athletics has often excelled on the global stage, high jump has endured a more difficult period. In 2012, at the London Olympics, Robbie Grabarz claimed a bronze medal, later upgraded to silver, but that was one of the last major British successes in the event. Aside from the 2016 European Championships, where Grabarz and Chris Baker took silver and bronze respectively, Britain has failed to secure a major medal at the Olympics, World Championships, or European Championships.
Even at junior level, results have fallen short of expectations. Since 2016, Britain has won just four medals across U18, U20, and U23 competitions, with only one European title. Crucially, none of the promising young athletes from that period have truly broken through at senior level. This is where Ethan Glyde and Otis Poole stand out, demonstrating remarkable progress and possessing the potential to reach the sport’s elite.
Ethan Glyde: Consistency at the Highest Level
Originally from Plymouth but now based in Nice, Ethan Glyde has made the most of his unique training environment to establish himself as one of the world’s top high jump prospects. In 2023, at just 16 years old, he produced a stunning performance by clearing 2.15m at the Marseille Masters Regionals, temporarily leading the U18 world rankings. With his towering 6ft8 (2.03m) frame, he possesses a natural advantage, which he has honed under the guidance of coach Jean-Marc Pleynet at Nice Côte d’Azur Athletics Club.
A few weeks later, Glyde confirmed his talent by winning gold at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. Now pursuing a university career in the United States, he recently made headlines by claiming victory at the Jimmy Grant Invite with a 2.10m jump, representing the University of Iowa, where he has earned a full scholarship. His trajectory suggests a bright future and potential dominance in the years to come.
Otis Poole: A Rapid Rise
While Ethan Glyde has built his reputation on consistency and steady progression, Otis Poole has caught the eye with his meteoric rise. Originally from Chippenham and coached by Joy Bray at Yate & District Athletic Club, Poole burst onto the scene in 2024 when he became U17 English champion with a 2.07m jump. However, it was in February 2025 that he truly made his mark.
At the British Indoor Championships in Birmingham, the 17-year-old delivered a stunning performance, clearing 2.20m, an 11cm improvement on his previous personal best, to win the senior national title. Remarkably, he had not even been initially invited to the championships. This sensational leap propelled him to the top of the U18 world rankings by a two-centimetre margin and placed him second in the U20 world rankings, just six centimetres behind Russia’s Stepan Vetkin. Already qualified for this summer’s European U20 Championships in Finland, Poole appears destined for a remarkable career.
A Duo to Lead British High Jump Forward
The rise of these two young talents perfectly reflects the current momentum in British high jump. With their contrasting styles, Glyde’s technical consistency and precision versus Poole’s explosiveness and rapid improvement, they form a duo capable of putting Britain back on the global athletics map.
Much like Noah Hanson and Daniel Goriola in the 110m hurdles, Glyde and Poole represent a new wave of British athletes determined to shake up the established order. With the European U20 Championships on the horizon and the Los Angeles Olympics as a long-term target, these two jumpers have all the ingredients to write a new and glorious chapter in British high jump history.
