Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh Win’s Emotional Gold Medal After Fleeing Home Country
She undertook a three-day, and near 200km journey to reach Serbia for the world championships.
Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh has hit an emotional milestone as she won gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Amid the turmoil of Russia's invasion of her home country, the 20-year-old produced a first-time clearance of 2.02m, which currently sits at the best jump in the world in 2022.
Mahuchick had fled her war-torn home country after sheltering in a cellar and awaking to sounds of explosions in her hometown of Dnipro.
She undertook a three-day, and near 200km journey to reach Serbia for the competition.
Her win signalled a remarkable outcome in her journey, as she was cheered while holding the flag of Ukraine aloft.
She told BBC Sport: "It was very important for me, my family, my country.
"I don't think about competition, training. For me, coming here was difficult - three days by car - and to jump here was so difficult psychologically because my heart remains in my country.
"It's so difficult but I think I've done very well for my country because I protect my country on the track. I think it's a very important thing for my country."
Australia's Eleanor Patterson, who had worn blue and yellow fingernails in tribute to Ukraine, finished took out silver.
Patterson applauded Mahuchickh's performance and journey to getting to the tournament.
She said: "It felt like a special competition out there. The hardships the Ukrainian athletes have gone through, no-one deserves to go through.
"The journey they've gone on just to get here is incredible. There's nothing I can do to change the situation (in Ukraine) but I feel for them hugely.
"I'm incredibly proud of Yaroslava and what's she's been able to do here - amazing. Obviously, I was somewhere safe and didn't have those threats of bombs and all those kind of things.
"So to see them here and performing so well was a really emotional moment.
"You're out there competing but you can't help but have such respect for all the Ukrainians here, my heart goes out to them that's for sure.
"I painted my nails blue and yellow because I wanted to show them some support!"
Patterson had enjoyed a career-high day in Belgrade, passing the two-metre jump and setting the Oceanian and Commonwealth record.
However, the day fittingly day belonged to Yarsolava Mahuchikh, who made a final-jump clearance of 2.00 metres to keep her in the competition when it looked like she was heading for the bronze medal.
The 20-year-old is the reigning European Indoor high jump champion and also won the Bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.
Featured Image Credit: Felix Sanchez Arrazola / Xinhua / AlamyTopics: Ukraine
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