Ukrainian high jump star and reigning Diamond League champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh finally realised her dream of a World Championships gold medal in Budapest, winning the a global outdoor title for the first time in her career.
Despite her dominance of the high jump in recent years, an outdoor gold had long eluded Mahuchikh, and when she returned to Wanda Diamond League action in Xiamen last Saturday, it was clear that a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
The Ukrainian star was on fine form in China, jumping 2.02m to go a centimetre higher than she had in Budapest and equal the world lead set by her Australian rival Nicola Olyslagers. It was a season's best, a meeting record and a second Diamond League win of the year for the freshly crowned world champion.
"I am really happy that I managed to break my season best of 2.01. I did not expect that because I felt a little bit tired," said the Ukrainian, who admitted that she had been "a little bit stressed" going into the World Championships.
Having now safely qualified for the Wanda Diamond League Final with her victory in Xiamen, she can attack the last global title of the season with fresh confidence in Eugene on September 16-17th. Victory in Oregon would see Mahuchikh win a second successive Diamond Trophy in the women's high jump, but she admitted that the Diamond League title is not her only dream for the rest of the season.
"I would love to break the world record. That is my dream," she said in Xiamen.
