By AFP | 2024-08-06

PARIS -- Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh dedicated her Olympic high jump gold medal August 4 to the almost 500 athletes and coaches who have been killed since Russia invaded her country in 2022.

The 22-year-old lived up to her pre-Paris Games billing to win the title in Paris.

She was more intent on winning to give some pleasure to her compatriots back in her war-torn country than on breaking her own world record.

The world champion, a bronze medalist in Tokyo three years ago, cleared 2.00 meters to defeat Australia's Nicola Olyslagers.

Another Australian, Eleanor Patterson, claimed joint bronze together with a second Ukrainian, Iryna Gerashchenko, both jumping 1.95 meters.

Mahuchikh said her thoughts were with the many athletes and coaches who had lost their lives in the conflict -- they, she said, would never be able to experience an evening like she had had in Paris.

"You know of course, it's really important," she said of the gold medal.

"But in my country the Russians killed people, and almost 500 sportsmen died in this war, and they will never compete and celebrate and feel this atmosphere.

"So I'm happy with the gold medal, and it's really for all of them. It's really incredible that we have three medals in track and field now."

Mahuchikh draped herself in the Ukrainian flag and hugged Geraschchenko with the duet briefly doing a celebratory jump up and down with the two Australians on the landing mat.

Mahuchikh's mind is constantly on her family's well-being back in Dnipro, which she says is shelled daily.

Mahuchikh and Gerashchenko also celebrated with compatriot Myhaylo Kohkan, who had just won bronze in the men's hammer.

The trio's achievements earned praise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We are very proud!" he said. "Thank you for this result. Ukrainians know how to be strong and how to win."

Gerashchenko, 29, added Olympic bronze to the European one she won earlier this year and summed up the trio's feelings.

"It is amazing; it is our night for the Ukrainian people and team."

6 days to Belgrade

Wearing her trademark blue and yellow eyeliner -- the colors of the Ukraine flag -- Mahuchikh was nowhere near her 2.10-meter world record form of the Paris Diamond League in July.

But her Paris performance August 4 was enough for Olympic gold, the sole trophy missing from the high jumper's impressive medal haul.

"Before this Olympics Games, there was a lot of pressure outside, but I try not to think about that because I feel comfortable at the track," she said.

"I just enjoyed the atmosphere. I wanted to win the gold; thank god that my coach from my childhood told me that you should jump all heights with first attempts."

Mahuchikh fled the Russian bombardment of her native city of Dnipro in February 2022.

Because of the war, she had to make a six-day car journey to Belgrade, Serbia, in 2022, where she added the world indoor high jump title to her previous awards.