Yaroslava Mahuchikh, world champion high jumper

We met the leader of the Ukrainian national high jump team Yaroslava Mahuchikh for the first time in Ukraine at the National Olympic Committee’s awards ceremony for the best athletes of the month. Then it was not possible to talk at length, but the athlete promised to do it in the near future. She proved to be as good as her word. In three days, the athlete joined us online directly from inside her car, took a walk in the park and described the most productive season in her career.

This season, Yaroslava Mahuchikh became the world champion, triumphed in the Diamond League and won the European Indoor Championships. Moreover, she became the only Ukrainian woman to win the Diamond League twice, setting a season record at the competition. Yaroslava is confidently moving towards the Olympics, but before that, she has returned to Ukraine, as she usually does to rest and discuss her busy season.

In an interview with Ukrinform, the athlete also explained her issues with Serhii Bubka, why Ukrainians should not boycott the Olympics, and what her future goals were.

UKRAINIAN ATHLETES SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN ALL COMPETITIONS WHERE THEY CAN REMIND THE WORLD OF UKRAINE AND PROTECT ITS HONOUR

- Can this year’s competitive season be considered the best in your career? If so, why?

- This is a season for which we prepared very hard. Of course, there were some debacles during the competitions, but still... We prepared well and that’s why we coped with the main event of the season. That alone makes it truly successful.

- You have finally achieved your goal by winning the world championships. Is Yaroslava Mahuchikh now the best high jumper in the world?

- I stand first in the World Athletics rankings, so I can agree with that. Despite everything, I understand that this status must be maintained. Next year, for example, is more important, because it is an Olympic year.

- How do Iryna Herashchenko and Yuliia Levchenko, who are your partners in the national team and at the same time competitors, feel about your status?

- Of course, we know each other, we follow our showings. Iryna Herashchenko, for example, jumped 2 meters already in Lausanne last season, and I congratulated her. As a counterpoint, I can note that we are not close friends in my understanding, but I cannot call these girls mere acquaintances either. We are real competitors only in the sector before the jump.

- Which of the tournaments was the most difficult for you physically and mentally?

- The world championships! I really wanted to win the gold award, because this was already my third world championships. My coach and I prepared for this event both psychologically and physically. Another nuance is that after the world championships I needed to quickly recover and fly to the Diamond League event in China. Now I understand that I should have rested more after the WC, because I left all my emotions there, at the stadium in Budapest.

- What was harder for you at the world championships: to gather yourself mentally before the performance or to approach the competition in optimal physical condition?

- One can be 100 percent ready physically, but the moral component will be the biggest obstacle. We Ukrainian athletes find it especially hard, because it is difficult to prepare for an event when your country is being attacked with missiles and drones. No matter how terrible it sounds, but one needs to put the war aside if one wants to win a competition.

- At the world championships, you tried to clear 2.07 meters. How did your coach react to this?

- When there is an opportunity to try, when you are alone in the sector, why not? Like any athlete, I want to set records. Everything is possible if you train and believe in yourself.

- How long does it take to fully recover from a competition like the world championships?

- Everything depends on how you feel. When you are preparing for the main event of the season, you may skip commercial tournaments afterwards. As for me, I believe that Ukrainian athletes should participate in all competitions where they can remind the world of Ukraine and protect its honour. Speaking of recovery alone, I think a week will be enough for that.

- Have you recovered after such a busy season?

- I came home on leave to rest, but I still haven't felt it. Now I have a lot of meetings and TV appearances, I need to constantly move. In the evening, I have time to fill in a painting by numbers, to recover in my own way. I like to paint overall, but often I don’t have the inspiration to do it from scratch.

AFTER VIEWING BUBKA’S VIDEO MESSAGE, IT BECAME CLEAR WHO WAS WHO

- In a recent foreign media interview, you criticised the former head of the National Olympic Committee Serhii Bubka. What are your main issues with him as the president of the NOC?

- We do not know everything and can only guess about many things. But at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, when we wrote letters to the IOC and international federations, Bubka did not even make a public statement. He was silent... Only when athletes began to wonder where he was, a video message appeared in which he did not even call the war a war. It dotted all the i's, making it clear to me who was who. The investigation into his business surprised me. As far as I know, it is still going on.

- Serhii Bubka was replaced by Vadym Gutzeit as the president of the NOC. How do you feel about him, is there communication between you two?

- I recently received an award from the NOC as the best Ukrainian female athlete of this August. We talked during the award event. He spoke about his efforts in the international arena to prevent Russians and Belarusians from competing. Gutzeit helped me and my team when we went abroad at the start of the full-scale invasion. I have no bad things to say about him. It is still too early to talk about his work as the president of the NOC.

- In your opinion, what are the main challenges facing the president of the NOC during the full-scale war?

- He should support athletes in everything, take interest in their training. The NOC is trying to be active and help, so it’s nice. I think they are really doing their best.

UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS DO NOT HIDE FROM THE RUSSIANS, BUT ACT RESOLUTELY, SO ATHLETES MUST ALSO BE RESOLUTE IN THE SPORTS ARENA

- Not so long ago, some people started to demand that Ukrainians boycott competitions in which Russians and Belarusians would be admitted. How do you feel about it?

- This issue has been raised, but there is still no clear answer. Everything will depend on the decision of the NOC. The Olympics is the most important event for which every athlete prepares. Of course, the possible boycott was sad news, but there are two sides to this situation. On the one hand, you understand that the boycott would be effective if other countries refuse to participate in the competition along with us, but this is unlikely. On the other hand, it is extremely difficult for me to imagine us competing with the Russian national team at a time when our cities are in ruins, and so many people have died. Despite this, I understand that we Ukrainian athletes should go out and give our best. After all, our soldiers do not hide from the Russians, do not run away, but destroy the enemies, protecting all of us. When a Russian invader approaches them, they act resolutely. We must also be resolute in the sports arena.

The Ukrainian federation joined the fight from the first day of the full-scale invasion. This contributed to the fact that currently the world and European federations stand fast on the issue of athletes from Russia and Belarus. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe clearly stated that athletes from the aggressor countries would not be admitted until the war is over. International leaders regularly meet with us, support us, and it is extremely nice.

- Still, Russians and Belarusians are allowed in some sports. Have you had any communication with them after the full-scale invasion began?

- None of the athletes with whom I had met at competitions before wrote me anything – everyone was silent. After my post on social networks about the war, stating that Ukraine would defend itself, some activity began on their part. Some young athletes sent letters saying that we were focusing on the war because we were unable to hold the championship of Ukraine. It was scheduled to be more or less coterminous with the championship of Russia. What championship of Ukraine, what kind of sports could one even think about then?! They also wrote that we did not understand anything, that it was all a lie. It seems that there are very few sane people in Russia! But, unfortunately, this is evidence that TV propaganda worked very well there.

- How did you react to their statements, considering that you are from Dnipro, which is hit by Russian attacks time again?

- I do not care what they think. There are no safe cities in Ukraine now. We Ukrainians have to adapt to life in war conditions. But no matter what, home is always the best. I am unable to train in Dnipro all the time, but I always return home after the season ends.

- You probably know Andrii Protsenko, who had to leave the occupied zone in Kherson Oblast to compete. Did you speak with him after he was able to leave for the territory controlled by Ukraine?

- I knew that Andrii spent time in the occupied zone. It was not possible to talk then, because he had no way to communicate. After his return, he described his time there. At first, Andrii tried to train while hiding from the occupiers, but it was difficult. Fortunately, he was able to leave and represented Ukraine well at the world championships, winning a bronze medal.

- Yaroslava, as the leader of the national team of Ukraine, knowing the story of Andrii and many other stories of Ukrainian athletes, what would you like to say to Thomas Bach, who is known for his ambiguous statements about Russians and Belarusians?

- The IOC is trying to emphasise the neutrality of sports. But sports cannot be totally unpolitical. Also, the war is more than just politics. It is about people’s lives! Our athletes are dying at the hands of Russia, although they could also compete on the international stage. The silent Russian and Belarusian athletes seem to be completely cool with this. Quite a few of them support the war. In this situation, it is obvious that all Russians are guilty of crimes against Ukraine, so they cannot be trusted.

I AIM TO WIN A HIGHER-GRADE MEDAL AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS

- Next year will be an Olympic one. How much have you changed since Tokyo 2020?

- I have become more resilient to everything that is happening. It helps me to focus as much as possible on the jumps and not get distracted. In addition, I have more experience and understanding how to act in certain situations...

- One of your competitors at the Olympics, Australian Nicola Olyslagers, records every jump in a notebook right at the competition. How do you feel about it?

- Quite normal. She describes her feelings there, assesses her performance. I think she discusses it with the coach later. Here, in track and field, you can do anything provided it does not disturb others. Athletes do manicure and makeup, so there are no problems.

- There have been media reports that the Australian writes down in a notebook what she will later add to her book. Would you like to have a book written about you?

- This is an extremely painstaking process. As of now, I have a desire to write my name in the history of track and field.

- Do you have any superstitions?

- I would call them traditions in my case. For every competition, I do my own hair and makeup. It calms me down, but sometimes, when I have to wake up an hour earlier before the competition, I think it would have been better to sleep more.

- What do you expect from the Paris Games?

- I aim to do my best. I would like to win a higher-grade medal, considering that this will be my second Olympics.

- Have you ever thought about trying to break Stefka Kostadinova’s world record (2.10 meters) at the Olympics?

- All the stars must align for this. One should break records where one feels that one is 200 percent ready for it. Setting records is a goal not for one competition, but for a whole career.

- How do you feel on returning home?

- I enjoy every second of my stay here. I will always be grateful to our Defence Forces of Ukraine for every second of it!

Vitalii Tkachuk, Kyiv

Picture credit: Ulf Schiller/athletix.ch