'I knew I'd win': Mahuchikh relives her unforgettable gold at Paris Olympics (video)
Photo: Yaroslava Mahuchikh on the podium in Paris (Getty Images)
Ukrainian track and field athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh shared her memories of her triumphant victory at the Olympic Games in Paris, where exactly one year ago, she won the gold medal in the high jump.
Champion's memories
"Exactly one year ago, I won my first Olympic gold in Paris. I always remember that day with incredibly warm feelings, because it was then that I knew and was certain that the medal would be mine, and there was no other way," Mahuchikh recalled.
According to her, the final day remained in her memory down to the smallest details. She noted that the emotional tension was hidden behind a smile, and the victory brought immense relief.
"I remember everything. From the tension that I often hide behind a smile to the relief that the dream, which absolutely every athlete lives for, came true at that very moment. A moment you'll never forget—not just you, but your entire country too," added the athlete.
She also thanked everyone who was by her side on the path to gold.
"Thank you to everyone who walked with me to this medal and continues to do so now," she concluded.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh became the Olympic champion in Paris, winning her first career gold medal at the world's top sporting event. Another Ukrainian athlete, Iryna Herashchenko, won a bronze medal in the Olympic final.
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Yaroslava Mahuchikh triumphed in the capital of France (photo: facebook.com/EuropeanAthletics)
How the final in Paris unfolded
The athletes started at a height of 1.86 m. Mahuchikh chose to skip this mark, while Herashchenko easily cleared it on her first attempt. At 1.91 m, both Ukrainians performed confidently and then cleared 1.95 m.
Before the 1.98 m mark, the field of medal contenders narrowed. The first to clear it was Australia's Nicola Olyslagers, and then Mahuchikh joined her on the first attempt. Meanwhile, Herashchenko and Australia's Eleanor Patterson didn't advance further but shared the bronze medal.
Next up was the 2.00 m height. The Ukrainian athlete cleared it on her first try. The Australian athlete, however, ramped up the tension to the maximum; she failed her first two attempts and then raised the bar to 2.02 m on her third.
Olyslagers failed to clear this height, making Mahuchikh the automatic champion.
Final results:
- Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukraine) – 2.00 m
- Nicola Olyslagers (Australia) – 2.00 m
- Iryna Herashchenko (Ukraine) – 1.95 m
- Eleanor Patterson (Australia) – 1.95 m
Earlier, we wrote about a 12-year-old Ukrainian boy who broke Duplantis's record.
