The Olympic high jump champion and world record holder on how she is inspired to perform by those back home
Yaroslava Mahuchich has no shortage of inspiration.
The 22-year-old has had a great season, arguably the best of her career so far, with an Olympic high jump gold medal and world record.
At Paris 2024, Mahuchich added a maiden Olympic crown to her world title with a best distance of 2.00m, beating Australia’s Nicola Ollislagers on countback.
A month ago, the Ukrainian raised Stefka Kostadinova’s 37-year-old world record by one centimeter in the “Adamande League” held in the capital of France, bringing it to 2.10 meters.
He also retained his European title from Munich with a distance of 2.01m in Rome.
Mahuchich is now aiming for a third straight Diamond League trophy with a win at Memorial Van Dam.
This will be special for him, as the Heusden-Zolder base in Belgium was the Ukrainian’s home for a year and a half.
Yaroslava Mahuchych and Irina Gerashchenko (Geti)
“Belgium has become my second home and I get so much support,” Mahuchich said. “My neighbors told me they were coming to the Van Damme Memorial on Friday to cheer me on. It does something to me. I think it’s awesome, too crazy for words.
“I really enjoy coming to the Van Damme Memorial and it’s one of my favorite matches. The atmosphere in the stadium is great and encourages great performances.”
After his season ended, Mahuchych revealed that he was returning to his hometown in Dnipro for two months, and that he hadn’t actually seen his family since October 2023.
His thoughts are never far from those living in war-torn Ukraine.
Yaroslava Mahuchich (River)
“I am fighting for my country on the athletics track,” Mahuchich said firmly. “I am jumping for the sake of my country and its people. They tell me that my accomplishments bring a little joy to their lives. My Olympic title brought joy for one day in Ukraine, but then a rocket hit a children’s hospital (on July 8, two people were killed in an attack by the Russian Air Force on the Ohmatdit Children’s Hospital). I cried a lot then.’
Mahuchykh was one of three Ukrainian athletes to win medals in Paris, the others being Iryna Gerashchenko and Mykhailo Kokhan, who won respective bronzes in the high jump and hammer throw.
READ MORE. Brussels Diamond League preview
When asked whether he prefers the Olympic gold or the world record, Mahuchich answered: “They are both indescribable memories. But records are there to be broken. One day my record will pass. So I will choose the Olympic gold. Once an Olympic champion, always an Olympic champion.”
Around 70,000 tickets have been sold so far for the Diamond League in Brussels, and UK viewers can also watch live on BBC Two and BBC Three live on both days from 19-21 BST respectively.
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