Ukrainian Yaroslava Maguchikh has loudly written her name into the history of world athletics.
On August 4, Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Maguchikh won “gold” at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The 22-year-old athlete from Dnipro climbed to the top step of the podium, where there was also room for another Ukrainian, Iryna Gerashchenko, who became the bronze medalist of the 2024 Olympics.
For Mahuchikh, this is the second Olympic medal in her career and the first gold. At the 2020 Games in Tokyo, she won bronze.
Having won gold at the Olympic Games, Yaroslava completed an already amazing list of her own achievements. We tell you what significant victories and records Maguchikh has distinguished herself with during her career.
Maguchikh's awards at the main high jump tournaments
- Olympic Games: “gold” (2024), “bronze” (2021)
- World Championships: “gold” (2023), “silver” (2019, 2022)
- World Indoor Championships: “gold” (2022), “silver” (2024)
- European Championships: “gold” (2022, 2024)
- European Indoor Championships: “gold” (2021, 2023)
- Diamond League Final: “silver” (2021), “gold” (2022, 2023)
Maguchikh Sets World Record in High Jump
July 7 2024Yaroslava Mahuchikh broke the world record in women's high jump.
This happened at the Diamond League stage in Paris. The Ukrainian athlete was the first in history to clear a height of 2.10 meters, surpassing the achievement of Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova, who jumped 2.09 meters at the 1987 World Championships in Rome.
Thus, Mahuchikh updated the world record, which had stood for 37 years.
“Before I came to the mixed zone, I didn't believe that I had succeeded. It's really fantastic, it's amazing, but this is our teamwork. It was fantastic for me, and of course it was for Ukrainians. Because now I fight for all of Ukraine at every competition. Every victory is important. And with the world record, I have written Ukraine into the history of sports. I hope that we will end the war as soon as possible,” Maguchikh said after setting the world record.
Maguchikh is the only current world record holder among Ukrainians
Maguchikh became the fourth representative of Ukraine who set a world record in athletics since independence.
Previously, this was done by Serhiy Bubka in pole vault, Inessa Kravets in triple jump and Natalia Dobrinska in pentathlon.
At the same time, Yaroslava is the only current world record holder among Ukrainians.
All world records of Ukrainians in athletics since independence
July 7, 2024. Yaroslava Maguchikh (high jump, women) – 2.10 m
March 9, 2012. Natalia Dobrinska (pentathlon, women) – 5013 points
August 10, 1995. Inessa Kravets (triple jump, women) – 15.50 m
July 31, 1994. Sergey Bubka (pole vault, men) – 6.14 m
Maguchikh is the only Ukrainian woman to win two medals in athletics at the Olympic Games
Having won gold at the 2024 Olympics, Yaroslava Maguchikh became the third Olympic champion in athletics in the history of Ukraine. In addition to her, Inessa Kravets (Atlanta 1996, triple jump) and Natalya Dobrinskaya (Beijing 2008, heptathlon) won top-class awards at the Olympic Games in athletics.
At the same time, Maguchikh became the first Ukrainian , who has won two Olympic medals in athletics. The 2024 Olympics is the second in Yaroslava’s career. At her debut Olympic Games in 2021, she became a bronze medalist.
Yaroslava dedicated the Olympic gold to her homeland and expressed gratitude to our military, volunteers and all those who bring Ukraine's victory in the war with the Russian occupiers closer every day.
“I won a gold award for our country. I am very happy. I want to thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the military, and volunteers. These are medals for the whole country.
Was I nervous? Actually, I was very well-disposed. Of course, the Olympic Games happen every four years. But I tried not to think about it, because it is a sporting event after all. I had such motivation, I arrived as the season leader with a world record. That gave me motivation. Unfortunately, I couldn't jump higher, but this is a competition, that's how it should be. We'll keep working, there's something to work on,” Maguchikh said in a commentary for Suspilne Sport.
Maguchikh also posted a video on Instagram in which, immediately after her triumph, she loudly shouted “Ukraine, I'm bringing the gold home.”
In In honor of Mahuchikh's victory, the Ukrainian anthem was played for the second time at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.