SAINT-DENIS, France —
Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, originally from Dnipro and forced to flee her country due to the war with Russia, won the gold medal in the high jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday.
She had the perfect partner to celebrate with: teammate Iryna Gerashchenko, who shared the bronze medal. The two ran around the track waving Ukrainian flags, prompting a standing ovation at the Stade de France.
It was Ukraine’s first individual gold at these Summer Games, following a victory by the women’s team in fencing.
It was a big night for Ukraine in athletics. Mykhaylo Kokhan also picked up a medal, but a bronze, in hammer throw, doubling the country’s medal haul from three to six overall.
The three Ukrainians hugged each other after the hammer throw was decided, then posed together on the track with blue and yellow flags.
Mahuchikh, the 2023 world champion, cleared 2.00m to finish ahead of Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, who also cleared 2.00m but then missed all three of her attempts at 2.02m.
Australia’s Eleanor Patterson and Gerashchenko shared bronze at 1.95m.
