The 22-year-old Yaroslava Mahuchikh became the first Ukrainian to win a gold medal in the Olympic high jump event. On Sunday (4th August), the world record holder shined with her first Olympic gold medal after winning the women’s high jump event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Paris 2024 Olympics: Women's high jump final - Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Australian Nicola Olyslagers both managed 2.00m
In the women’s high jump final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, both Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Australian Nicola Olyslagers managed the 2.00m mark. However, the reigning world champion Mahuchikh achieved the target on her first attempt, while the silver medallist Australian needed her third attempt to achieve the feat.
Ukrainian also attempted 2.02m and 2.04m but failed to achieve those. Meanwhile, Nicola had three unsuccessful attempts for a 2.02m jump.
The gold medallist Mahuchikh said to Olympics.com, "I dreamed of this moment when I started my track & field career and it was a big motivation to me. I thank God that I jumped [over at 2.00m] with my first attempt and that gave me the gold medal that I want to dedicate to my country."
It was the second gold medal for Ukraine at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The women's team sabre in the fencing event claimed Ukraine's first gold medal in the ongoing Summer Olympics.
In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Ukrainian Mahuchikh claimed the bronze medal, while Australian Nicola clinched the silver medal, just like her latest achievement in the ongoing Summer Olympics.
Ukrainian and Australian also jointly won the bronze medal
Although six athletes managed the 1.95m mark on Sunday night, Ukrainian Iryna Herashchenko and Australian Eleanor Patterson jointly claimed the bronze medal in the women’s high jump event.
Another miss for the USA
In the meantime, it was the third straight Summer Olympics edition where the United States missed a medal in the women’s high jump event. American athlete Vashti Cunningham managed the 1.95m mark but closely failed to win a medal as she finished in fifth place.
The last time, the United States had an Olympic medal in the women’s high jump was during the London 2012, where Brigetta Barrett earned the silver medal.
