by Stuart WeirThese are challenging times.
In March 2014, I was in Poland with my son, Adam, and his partners at the Shoe Addicts, Mike Deering, and Algernon Felice. During that time, Russia invaded Crimea. I recall Bohdan Bondarenko refusing to speak to the Russian media, who were incredulous. The outrage that Ukrainian athletes had was obvious and we could understand. Polish media did some pretty incredible caricatures of Mr. Putin at the time.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh woke up to the attack of her city on February 24, 2022. She left Dnipro and drove three days to reach Belgrade, Serbia. The young Ukrainian missed two times at 2 meters, taking three attempts at 2 meters to clear. Then, at 2.02 meters, she put it together.
Stuart Weir put this piece together for us, it was one of his moments of the Championships.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
“Today, I was doing it for all the Ukrainian nation”.
It was an emotional moment for everyone in the Stark Arena when Yaroslava Mahuchikh won the women’s high jump.
Twelve ladies entered the competition but by the time we had reached 1.92m, there were just seven left. Only four cleared 1.95m. Then Marija Vukovic from Montenegro failed at 1.98m leaving three athletes to contest the three medal places. Nadezhda Dubovitskaya from Kazakhstan failed at 2m. Eleanor Patterson cleared 2m 0 a PR – at the second attempt, Mahuchikh at the third attempt. Three attempts at 2:00 but she sailed over 2:02m at the first attempt. Patterson failed at 2:02m and then passed but neither lady could clear 2.04m leaving Ukaine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh the world indoor champion. Another Ukrainian, Iryna Gerashchenko was fifth.
We have a saying in London about buses – you wait an hour and then two come together – the first one is late and the second one is on time so they come together! That sums up women’s high jumping in Australia. No woman clears two meters. Then Nicola McDermott achieves it outdoors. Now Eleanor Patterson takes the Australian indoor record past 2 meters.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh, photo by Getty Images for World Athletics
Patterson commented: “I am incredibly proud to be able to come here and come away with a silver medal and a PB. It’s amazing to win a first senior global medal. I knew coming here that I was in good form but I don’t think it’s going to sink in for a bit just what I’ve done. Jumping two meters and also getting the silver at worlds is huge”.
Mahuchikh commented on her performance: “I was very confident at the low heights, but after two fails at 2.00m I had to focus only on my jumping. I had the same situation at the world championships in 2019 when I also cleared only on the third attempt”.
But today was about a lot more than high-jumping. This normally impartial observer was willing a Ukrainian win and was in danger of becoming a little emotional when it did.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh commented: “Before we went to the field, the only thought in my mind was about Ukraine because too many terrible things have happened there. I even doubted that I could jump at all, but my coach said I must go out and perform with the shape and fitness I had before the start of the Russian invasion. Today, though, my motivation to do each height was very different. I didn’t think I was doing it for myself or my medal, I was doing it for all the Ukrainian nation, to show that we are the strongest in the world.
” I have no idea how I will prepare for the summer. I am so sorry that I cannot go back to Ukraine. I want to go back as soon as possible, but right now I am going to the Puma office in Germany to get some support from them because I had to make my trip here almost without any clothes. I am incredibly thankful for all the results of all the athletes who supported the whole team and me, especially in this competition. I saw that Eleanor had manicured her nails with Ukrainian colors and a big yellow heart. My heart right now is with all people who support us and defend Ukraine”.
Eleanor Patterson caught the mood too: “To win silver behind Yaroslava makes it even more special. She’s had to deal with such hardships that no one deserves to, so I’m incredibly proud of her too. I’m in the same hotel as the Ukrainian team, and I was able to see them beforehand and exchange small smiles and little gestures of support. I have such respect for both girls and all the Ukrainians who have made it here. It’s incredible to see them and phenomenal for Yaroslava to come away with the gold. I said a few words to her at the end and I painted my nails blue with a yellow love heart on them today just to communicate a small gesture to them that my heart goes out to them. I think she appreciated it”.
There are six Ukrainians in the championships, all women.
