Ukrainian High Jumper Maguchikh Wins Silver at Diamond League Final in Zurich
In an intensely competitive and spectacular Diamond League final in women’s high jump held on August 27 in Zurich, the top athletes battled it out for prestigious titles.
Two Ukrainian athletes qualified for the final — Yaroslava Maguchikh and Yulia Levchenko.
Maguchikh, who entered the competition with 35 points and ranked third after the qualifying rounds, managed to match her season personal best by clearing 2.02 meters on her second attempt.
Despite her efforts, she was unable to surpass that height, and the bar at 2.06 meters remained undefeated for all finalists.
As a result, Maguchikh secured second place and silver medals with a final height of 2.04 meters, which she achieved after a strong performance.
The victory went to Australian athlete Nicola Olyslagers, who cleared 2.04 meters on her final attempt and set a new personal record.
Yulia Levchenko, who had recently set a personal best after five years, with a jump of 2.00 meters, finished just off the podium, placing fourth.
For Yaroslava, this marked her fifth consecutive final in the Diamond League, having previously won silver in 2021 and then claiming gold three times in succession — a testament to her standing among the world’s elite high jumpers.
Although Yulia did not reach the podium this time, her performance reaffirmed her high skill level and determination.
It’s worth noting that last season, Maguchikh set a world record of 2.10 meters, won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and became European champion.
Recently, there were reports about her receiving an official disqualification due to doping violations, stirring public debate.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian athlete Doroščuk made history by winning his first ever Diamond League gold medal, highlighting the strength and potential of Ukrainian athletics on the world stage.