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Ukrainian High Jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh Named European Athlete of the Year
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh has been named European Athlete of the Year at the European Athletics Awards ceremony, held in Skopje. Mahuchikh received this prestigious honor following a season of record-breaking achievements, becoming the first Ukrainian woman to secure this award.
Mahuchikh’s 2024 season stands out as one of exceptional success. She set a new world record in high jump with a 2.10-meter leap at the Diamond League in Paris this July, surpassing the long-standing record of 2.09 meters set by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova in 1987. Shortly afterward, Mahuchikh clinched her first Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games, adding to her European Championship title won in June. She also dominated the Diamond League season, securing victories across all events she entered.
In accepting her award, Mahuchikh dedicated it to the people of Ukraine, highlighting her pride in representing her country during these challenging times. “This year has been the most successful of my career,” she said at the ceremony. “For me, as an athlete and as a Ukrainian, every victory is an opportunity to shed light on the situation in my country and to inspire future generations.”
Mahuchikh wore a “Dnipro” pendant at the award ceremony, which came a day after a Russian attack on her hometown that claimed five lives, including a child.
This year, European Athletics also recognized Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis as the Male Athlete of the Year, following his Olympic and world records in Paris. Mahuchikh’s award is notable as she joins Bohdan Bondarenko, another Ukrainian high jumper who won the title in 2013, marking a significant milestone for Ukraine in European athletics.
The International Association of Athletics Federations recently ratified Mahuchikh’s world record, further solidifying her legacy in the sport. She is also a finalist for the title of World Athlete of the Year in non-track disciplines, with results set to be announced on December 1 in Monaco.
