Yaroslava Mahuchikh tightened the laces of her orange trainers, set her run-up, and struggled to contain her smile. She was destined to be an Olympic champion: it became clear after her amiable Australian opponent, Nicola Olyslagers, failed to clear 2.02 metres on her third attempt.
Her approach for the 2.04m bar was more of a formality, a celebratory endeavor with victory already secured. Although she, like the silver medalist, wasn’t able to clear the height, it was inconsequential. Moments later, she was proudly waving a Ukrainian flag around the track alongside her fellow countrywoman Iryna Gerashchenko, who jointly won bronze, as the crowd erupted in applause for a talent poised to become a legend.
Earlier, Olha Kharlan, a celebrated figure in Ukrainian fencing, had catalyzed the nation’s first gold medal in these poignant Olympic Games by driving a remarkable comeback in the women’s team sabre event. This achievement came 16 years after Kharlan’s inaugural title in this arena, making the moment feel exceptionally fitting. Now, with Mahuchikh, an extraordinary athlete who has her brightest days ahead, Ukraine’s narrative of resilience continues to shine on the global stage.
As Olyslagers prepared for her final attempt, Mahuchikh engaged in her customary inter-jump ritual. This quirky routine involved wrapping herself in a sleeping bag, evoking feelings of a camping adventure mixed with a late-night snack session. Before her second attempt, she meandered over to the gathering of Ukrainians seated behind her, clearly seeking one last encouragement.
Ultimately, the encouragement might not have been necessary: Mahuchikh is capable of achieving more, as evidenced by her recent world record of 2.10m set a month prior, but she clinched victory with a cleaner performance than Olyslagers throughout the final. “I want to express my gratitude to the armed forces of Ukraine and everyone who supports us—these medals represent our entire nation,” she stated afterward.
For Mahuchikh, this was not just about claiming gold for her country but also about adding another beautiful chapter to her remarkable life story: at just 22, she took an arduous three-day drive to Belgrade and became the European indoor champion less than a month after Russia invaded her homeland in February 2022.
Leaving her home in Dnipro, a city under constant threat, she sought refuge at her coach’s home in the countryside, seeking shelter in the cellar whenever air raid sirens blared. Nothing that transpired in Paris could overshadow her resilience and exceptional talent.
In Paris, she anticipated a final face-off with Olyslagers, and the event unfolded exactly as expected, with competitors eliminated until only the top two jumpers remained for the ultimate challenge.
Unfortunately for the Serbian world No 3, Angelina Topic, an ankle injury had removed a substantial competitor from the proceedings. The broader complexities surrounding the Games loomed large, heightened by interest in how Mahuchikh would face off against Cyprus’s Elena Kulichenko, the world under-23 champion.
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Back in 2019, Kulichenko, originally from near Moscow, acquired Cypriot citizenship due to her father’s business in the region. Following Russia’s suspension amid a doping scandal, such exchanges were not isolated this summer, and Mahuchikh expressed her discontent about competing against Kulichenko before the Games commenced. Kulichenko labeled her colleague’s sentiments as “unreasonable.”
Ultimately, the two did not intersect much during the competition; Kulichenko was unable to clear the 1.98m height and departed before the key confrontation between the sport’s superstars. Gerashchenko, a seasoned competitor at 29, soon found herself sharing third place with another Australian, Eleanor Patterson, turning the event into yet another memorable display of Ukrainian strength.
This was not Mahuchikh’s first major competition; she secured bronze in Tokyo and, perhaps expedited by the war and an innate steadiness, possesses an old soul in those youthful shoulders. This has been true for every Ukrainian representative in Paris: each is more than just an athlete, and it felt significant that, as the 33-year-old Kharlan concludes her career on a high note, Ukraine now has a global ambassador and hero to rally behind. She has already achieved it all. “The sky’s the limit,” she declared. “I aspire to enhance my performance and jump higher and higher.”
In contrast to Mahuchikh’s self-made bubble, Olyslagers preferred to unwind with an old performance notebook during her downtime. She may realize that the new champion has effectively authored the guide to success at this level. With her victory lap completed, Mahuchikh embraced her supporters from back home before taking her leave. “Ukraine, I’m bringing the gold home!” she exclaimed into a camera. Along with the pride and motivation her achievements bring to her resilient country, she’s bound to return soon enough.
