Yaroslava Mahuchikh: “The Diamond League is like a World Championships”

Image: Courtesy of Wanda Diamond League

Ahead of her Wanda Diamond League opener in Xiamen on April, Ukrainian high jump star Yaroslava Mahuchikh speaks to diamondleague.com about war, world records and winning the Diamond Trophy.

You kick off your Wanda Diamond League campaign in Xiamen on April 26. How are preparations going for the season ahead?

It’s going well! I’ve been jumping well since the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. I know that there will be great competitors in the field in Xiamen with the Australian girls and the Serbian girls. It will be an incredible atmosphere and I want to get a good result. I’m looking forward to starting my season. 

Last time you were in Xiamen, in 2023, you jumped 2.02m. What memories do you have of that performance? 

It was my first visit to China and it was really fantastic, both outside the stadium and during the competition. A lot of people came to support athletes: it was full stadium and when we’d finished, there were a lot of people who wanted to talk a little bit or take a picture. It was really fun, and I think the Diamond League fans in China are some of the best supporters I have ever seen. 

At the World Indoors in Nanjing, you won bronze behind Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson, both of whom will also be in Xiamen next weekend. Is this a chance for revenge? 

(laughs) No, I think that chance will come at the next World Indoor Championships in 2026! Of course not winning gold in Nanjing has motivated me to work harder, but in the high jump it’s always a great atmosphere on the track. We are like friends, we talk to each other all the time. We compete with each other all the time in the Diamond League, so we are very close to each other. When someone jumps high or gets a personal best, the others are always so happy for them. 

Does it help that you compete against each other so regularly? You’re always having to measure yourself against your biggest rivals.

It makes it more interesting. When someone else is jumping really well, it can give you this energy. If someone jumps well, I get the feeling that I am ready to fight and jump higher and higher. It’s so cool. I like this atmosphere, because I think you should be competitors on the track but stay friendly off it. 

Story: Wanda Diamond League