By Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who was forced to flee her country due to the ongoing war with Russia, claimed a historic gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, marking Ukraine’s first individual gold of these Summer Games. Her triumph was made even more poignant by sharing the moment with her teammate Iryna Gerashchenko, who secured the bronze medal in the same event.
The pair’s victory celebration became an emotional highlight of the Games as they ran down the track waving Ukrainian flags, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd at Stade de France. This gold medal adds to Ukraine’s earlier success in the women’s team saber fencing event, bolstering the nation’s Olympic performance amid challenging circumstances.
Mahuchikh’s winning jump of 2.00 meters was enough to edge out Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, who also cleared 2.00 meters but failed in her attempts at 2.02. The bronze medal was shared between Australia’s Eleanor Patterson and Ukraine’s Gerashchenko, both clearing 1.95 meters.
The victory held special significance for Mahuchikh, who hails from Dnipro, a city of nearly one million people located just 100 kilometers from the front lines of the war in Ukraine. When the conflict began, she was forced to hastily leave her hometown, packing what she could into her car and fleeing amidst the sound of gunfire and falling shells.
This Olympic gold is the crowning achievement in Mahuchikh’s already impressive career, adding to the bronze she won in Tokyo and the gold she claimed at last year’s world championships. Her recent world record of 2.10 meters, set less than a month ago in another Paris stadium, further cements her status as one of the world’s premier high jumpers.
The night proved to be a triumphant one for Ukrainian athletics overall, with Mykhaylo Kokhan securing a bronze medal in the hammer throw. This success doubled Ukraine’s total medal count from three to six, a significant achievement given the challenges faced by the country’s athletes due to the ongoing conflict.
The emotional impact of these victories was evident as the three Ukrainian medalists shared a huge hug after the hammer throw competition concluded. They then posed together on the track, proudly displaying their blue and yellow flags, in a powerful moment of national pride and resilience.
