- Ukrainian high jumper beats Australians to take gold at Paris 2024 Olympics
- He drew attention for his unique preparation for each jump.
- It was the complete opposite of one of the Australians, who also won over the public.
Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh won a legion of new fans with her unique way of preparing for each jump as she won gold at the Stade de France on Sunday.
Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson achieved a historic feat by winning silver and bronze medals in the event, but Mahuchikh was the star of the show.
Olyslagers had a chance to compete for gold when he faced the world champion from Ukraine at 2.02m, but narrowly missed out.
Mahuchikh entertained fans with her unique routine, which saw the 22-year-old wrap herself in a green sleeping bag between jumps, presumably to keep her legs warm and active while her rivals took their turn.
Sometimes he would go a step further and close his eyes, lie down with his head resting on his backpack and take a sip from a can of Red Bull.
It was the complete opposite of Olyslagers’ obsessive routine of evaluating himself on various aspects of his technique by writing in his diary between jumps, a ritual he carried into the Tokyo Games when he won silver and kept in Paris.
Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh wrapped herself in a sleeping bag between jumps at the Paris Olympics
The gold medal winner was super relaxed at times, even appearing to take naps in her sleeping bag while waiting for her turn to jump.
‘I’m obsessed with how Yaroslava Mahuchikh crawls into a sleeping bag while Nicola Olyslagers immediately starts doodling in her notebook after her high jump attempts, the duality of women,’ one follower posted on social media platform X.
“Sleeping bag = career move,” added another.
“You could see how both approaches worked so well for each of them. I loved how well thought out everything was,” another posted.
While Australians would be disappointed if our athletes failed to secure gold, Mahuchikh’s journey to the Olympics is the stuff of legend.
In February 2022, Yaroslava Mahuchikh packed her car and fled Ukraine using gunfire and shellfire as the Russian invasion escalated.
Since then, she has trained and lived in Portugal, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Estonia and other countries in a hugely disruptive preparation for the Paris Games.
Viewers loved watching Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s laconic approach to the high-pressure atmosphere in Paris.
Australian Nicola Olyslagers furiously took notes on her own performance between jumps
Olyslagers, a devout Christian who prays before every jump, says she jumps with “joy for Jesus.”
Her positivity quickly captivated the Stade de France crowd and millions of fans watching from home. She encouraged spectators before each attempt and beamed with joy every time she made a success.
‘Olyslagers is always smiling and it’s very contagious,’ one fan posted.
“The expressions on the faces of the Olyslagers while competing are something out of the ordinary. It’s rare to see people display such genuine joy while competing,” added another.
“Nicola Olyslagers is an icon, her positive energy, her dedication, her whole vibe is amazing. Plus, she’s a legendary athlete,” another posted.