Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh has lived through the full arc of sporting dreams , from watching stars on TV to becoming the face of her event.
At just 23, Yaroslava is now the women’s high jump world record holder and one of the most decorated athletes of her generation.
Back in 2018, a 16-year-old Mahuchikh made her Diamond League debut in Rome. She didn’t win. In fact, she finished last. But the experience, she says, lit a fire that still burns today.
“I remember that I was the last one,” she said during a recent press conference. “But it was a great experience for me just to be part of the Diamond League.”
Since then, her rise has been nothing short of remarkable.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh won gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics, 2023 World Championships, and 2022 World Indoor Championships. She also holds bronze medals from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2025 World Indoor Championships, along with silver from the 2019 and 2022 World Championships, and the 2024 World Indoors.
She has won the Diamond League title three times and amassed 21 career victories in the series.
Her biggest moment came at the 2024 Paris Diamond League, where she soared over 2.10 meters. She set a new world record, the highest outdoor mark ever recorded in women’s high jump.
“It’s the journey of my life, how I grew up, how I got stronger mentally and physically to get the best results possible,” she said. “Now I have three Diamond League trophies.”
Despite the weight of expectations, she remains grounded. “My coach always tells me to focus on the jump.”