Ukraine win gold and bronze as Australians Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson also make Olympic podium in Paris
After breaking the longstanding world record with 2.10m this summer, it was hard to see Yaroslava Mahuchikh losing in Paris. But the 22-year-old was up against the formidable Australian duo Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson, plus fellow Ukrainian Iryna Gerashchenko.
Mahuchikh and Olyslagers jumped 2.00m with Mahuchikh winning courtesy of her perfect record up to that point, whereas Olyslagers needed three attempts to get over the same height and then failed at 2.02m.
“Finally, I got this gold medal,” said Mahuchikh. “I’m looking forward to the next competition.”
The world record-holder drew attention by slipping her legs into a sleeping bag in between her attempts. “It’s comfortable to me and I’ve done it for a few years,” she said.
She also explained she has added two more steps to her run-up “which gives me more speed and a more comfortable feeling on the runway. The sky’s the limit!”
There was a reminder of the war in Ukraine with Russian-born Elena Kulichenko finishing seventh for Cyprus. Kulichenko, who jumped 1.95m on Sunday in Paris, switched nations in 2019, however, and she believes her efforts as an athlete should not be linked to politics and war. Sadly, she has received a huge amount of hateful messages on social media calling her a traitor.
For Mahuchikh this had been a chance to strike gold for her own war-torn nation. In 2022, don’t forget, she undertook a three‑day journey by road from her home of Dnipro to Belgrade shortly after the Russian invasion began to compete in the European Indoor Championships, where she won gold.
Of course the high jump final in Paris was a big success for Australian athletics too.
Olyslagers said: “Tonight was so special for me because it’s the first time with this kind of atmosphere. I wanted to continue showing up, I wanted to give my best, it was amazing.”
Patterson, who is coming back from injury and surgery, added: “I’m in a bit of disbelief. It’ll take a while to sink in. I would’ve loved to jump higher, so it’s a bit of mixed emotions of feeling a little disappointed with my performances. But then you realise that it comes with a bronze medal, so I’m pretty proud.”
Rising star Angelina Topic of Serbia did not start after fracturing her ankle in qualifying.
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