Meet Yaroslava Mahuchikh: Ukraine high jump star who broke 37-year-old world record ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics
UKRAINIAN Yaroslava Mahuchikh broke a world record that’s been held since 1987 ahead of her debut in the summer Olympics.
As the women’s high jump world champ sets the pace to take part in the Paris 2024 Olympics, we take a closer look at what we know about the athlete and her achievements.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, smiles after winning the gold medal in the women’s high jump final at the European Athletics Championships in RomeAP
Silver medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine wears eye make-up in her country’s colours while competing in the women’s high jumpAP
Who is Yaroslava Mahuchikh?
Yaroslava Mahuchikh is the women’s high jump world record holder.
She was born on September 19, 2001, in Ukraine‘s fourth largest city, Dnipro.
She took up high jumping at the age of 13 and won her first gold medal two years later.
At just 15 years old, she bagged top spot at the 2017 World U18 Championships by the largest margin in the competition’s history while setting an unofficial world high jump record for an athlete her age.
In 2019 she won silver at the World Championships, and defended her title three years later in Eugene, Oregon.
At the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics she claimed bronze with a height of two metres, behind Russian Olympic Committee athlete Mariya Lasitskene and Aussie silver medallist Nicola McDermott.
In February 2022 her life changed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The high-jumper delivered humanitarian aid to her fellow Ukrainian’s following the invasion.
With her country under siege and training interrupted, the athlete risked travelling by car for three days to the world indoor championships in Belgrade a month later.
On leaving her country she said “The hardest moment was saying goodbye to my family, my father.
“But then you realise that you have to compete, perform for your country at an international level, show that Ukraine is still there.”
She now competes wearing her trademark blue-and-yellow eyeliner, in support of her war-torn country.
She said: “This is your contribution to this conflict.
“You participate in competitions, engage with people, and tell Ukraine’s story.
We all have a responsibility to aid in the defence of Ukraine, with our part being to compete. That’s our arena of battle
Yaroslava Mahuchikh
“Your performance amplifies the reach of our story, and nothing attracts more attention to your message than winning a gold medal.
“We all have a responsibility to aid in the defence of Ukraine, with our part being to compete. That’s our arena of battle.”
Despite the effects of the war, the young athlete was victorious in the women’s high jump at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Mahuchikh is currently a refugee of the war-torn country, living and training in Germany.
When did Yaroslava Mahuchikh break the high jump world record?
Mahuchikh set a new world record in the women’s high jump at the Paris Diamond League on July 7, 2024.
She cleared 2.10 metres to break Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova’s record, that has stood since 1987.
The Ukrainian World Champion is set to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics, hoping to improve on her bronze from Tokyo.
Mahuchikh broke the 37-year-old high jump world record ahead of the Paris 2024 OlympicsAP
Which country will Yaroslava Mahuchikh represent at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Mahuchikh will represent her home nation of Ukraine in Paris.
Her bid for gold will begin on August 2 in qualifying.
The final takes place two days later.
The Olympics runs from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
