Ukrainian high jumper – Yaroslava Mahuchich: Flying high despite the war in mind – Sport

When the top athlete from Ukraine competes in the high jump, her thoughts are always on her homeland.

It is only a symbolic sign, and yet it is immediately noticeable: the blue-yellow eyeshadow on Yaroslava Mahuchich’s face. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the national colors have been part of the Ukrainian high jumper’s permanent competition look.

Far and yet close

Although Mahutschich is often several thousand kilometers away from her homeland due to her sporting existence, she is currently closer than ever. When asked about her situation, Mahutschich has trouble finding the right words: “It is mentally very difficult to focus on the high jump at the moment.”

Because of the ongoing war, the 20-year-old is still unable to return to her homeland. Mahuchich comes from Dnipropetrovsk, a city of over a million inhabitants in the region of the same name in eastern Ukraine, which borders on the contested Donbass region. Although – or precisely because the high jumper follows what is happening in her home country – she is currently achieving top sporting performances.

An impressive example of this, in addition to the three triumphs in the current Diamond League season, is the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade in March. There Mahuchich became the world champion in the high jump after fleeing 60 hours by car directly from her home country to the Serbian capital.

Sport as a platform

Most recently, Mahuchich triumphed in Paris with a world record for the year ahead of her two compatriots Irina Geraschtschenko and Julija Levtschenko. Mahuchich uses the attention she generates through sport to draw attention to the situation in Ukraine – and to give hope to her compatriots. “With my achievements, I want to show that the Ukrainian people are a strong nation.”

At the end of the interview, Mahutschich reveals where the priorities lie for the exceptional athlete. When asked what is most important to her at the moment, the world champion doesn’t have to think twice: “The end of the war soon – and then the world record.”