Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh hardly needs an introduction. Yet it is worth revisiting the extraordinary list of achievements of this 23-year-old star athlete.
She is the world record holder with a jump of 2.10m, breaking a mark that had stood for 30 years.
Mahuchikh is the 2024 Olympic champion in Paris (2.00m) and the Tokyo 2021 bronze medalist (2.00m).
World Championships
She has represented Ukraine three times at the World Championships:
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Doha 2019 — silver (2.04m)
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Eugene 2022 — silver (2.02m)
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Budapest 2023 — gold (2.01m), Ukraine’s first world title in 10 years
World Indoor Championships
Mahuchikh owns a full set of medals:
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Belgrade 2022 — gold (2.02m)
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Glasgow 2024 — silver (1.97m)
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Nanjing 2025 — bronze (1.95m)
Other Major Achievements
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Two-time European outdoor champion (2022, 2024)
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Three-time European indoor champion (2021, 2023, 2025)
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Winner of three Diamond League Finals (2022, 2023, 2024)
In the 2025 season, Mahuchikh ranks No. 2 in the world with a season-best of 2.02m.
Current Season & Form
Following a brilliant 2024 — with a European gold, a world record, and Olympic victory — the current season has been more challenging. She claimed wins at the European Team Championships in Madrid and the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, but also had setbacks, finishing third at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing with 1.95m.
Her winning streak ended at Diamond League stages: she placed second in Stockholm (1.99m) and fourth in London (1.93m), missing the podium for the first time in three years, partly due to a leg injury.
However, repeating her season’s best of 2.02m in Zurich suggests her recovery is on track. Mahuchikh has also cleared 2.00m or higher six times this year, which will be crucial in the battle for the gold medal in Tokyo.
Prediction
Her fiercest rival is Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers (SB 2.04), who beat Mahuchikh to the Diamond League title and the World Indoor crown this year. The head-to-head record since 2019 favors the Ukrainian at 27:10, though five of Olyslagers’ wins came in 2025.
Fans are confident Mahuchikh will be on the podium in Tokyo 2025. The only question is whether she can defend her world title, making the World Championships especially thrilling for Ukrainian supporters.
