The recent Olympic high jump champion, Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh, has dedicated her gold medal to the nearly 500 coaches and athletes who have died since the Russian invasion of her country began.
Mahuchikh, 22, originally from Dnipro, triumphed in the competition with a jump of 2.00 meters during the 2024 Paris Olympics, just a month after setting a new world record with a mark of 2.10 meters.
"In my country, the Russians have killed people, and almost 500 athletes have died in this war and will never compete, celebrate, or feel this atmosphere. So I am happy with the gold medal; it is really for all of them," the champion declared.
The athlete also took the opportunity to urge Russian athletes to speak out against their country's invasion. According to AFP, Mahuchikh expressed her disappointment at the silence of the few Russian athletes competing under a neutral flag in Paris. "They have said nothing against this war," she commented, emphasizing that the Olympic spirit should promote peace and condemn violence.
In Paris, only 15 Russian athletes have been authorized to compete, maintaining a low profile. For instance, Russian tennis player Diana Shnaider avoided discussing politics after winning the silver medal in women's doubles with her partner Mirra Andreeva, merely stating, "I am here to talk about tennis."
Mahuchikh, who is also the current world champion in high jump, finds it "terrible" that Russia has ignored the concept of the Olympic truce by continuing its military operations in Ukraine.
Her recent victory and the dedication of her medal highlight the political component of her triumph, especially in the absence of the defending Olympic titleholder, Russian Mariya Lasitskene, who could not compete due to the exclusion of Russian athletes by the international athletics federation.
Regarding her future aspirations, Mahuchikh plans to continue competing well into her thirties, aiming to surpass 2.11 or 2.12 meters and keep breaking world records. "There is always room for improvement," she affirmed with determination.
Olga Kharlan's Gesture of Solidarity
Mahuchikh's gesture joins that of Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan, who also dedicated the bronze medal she won in Paris to all the Ukrainian athletes who have died in the war since Russia's invasion began in February 2022.
The Ukrainian athlete, who secured her fifth Olympic medal, expressed her passion for her country at the end of the competition: "Ukraine, we love you, this is for you, dear, this is for you," cameras captured her shouting after winning the dramatic bout.
"This is a message to the whole world: Ukraine will never surrender," Kharlan emphasized, according to cooperativa.cl.
Kharlan, 33, lost her semifinal bout against French fencer Sara Baltser and was trailing 5-11 against 23-year-old South Korean fencer Choi Sebin in the bronze medal match before managing to turn the tide and triumph with a 15-14 score on Monday.
When asked where she found the "strength" to win the medal in a duel that had turned against her, Kharlan referred to her origin: "I am Ukrainian. We have strength, we will always have it. We will always fight," Kharlan said.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh's Olympic Dedication Amid Russian Invasion
In light of Yaroslava Mahuchikh's recent Olympic victory and her dedication of the gold medal, many questions have arisen concerning the impact of the Russian invasion on Ukrainian athletes and the broader implications for the sporting community. Below are some frequently asked questions and answers.
How many Ukrainian athletes have died since the Russian invasion?
Nearly 500 Ukrainian coaches and athletes have died since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
Why are Russian athletes competing under a neutral flag in Paris?
Russian athletes are competing under a neutral flag due to international sanctions and the exclusion of Russian athletes by the international athletics federation.
What was Yaroslava Mahuchikh's winning jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Yaroslava Mahuchikh won the gold medal with a jump of 2.00 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics.