The Anticipated Showdown: Mahuchikh vs. Olyslagers for Olympic Gold
The upcoming duel on Sunday for the Olympic gold medal in the women’s high jump promises to be a thrilling spectacle. With Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh squaring off against Nicola Olyslagers of Australia, all eyes will be on these two formidable competitors. The outcome of this contest will hinge, in part, on how each athlete manages their time between jumps.
At major competitions like the Olympics, the intervals between attempts can stretch anywhere from 20 minutes to half an hour as the field narrows. What these athletes choose to do during this downtime is largely a matter of personal preference. Olyslagers stays sharp by jotting down her thoughts and reflections in a journal, while Mahuchikh opts for a more relaxed approach, often cocooning herself in a sleeping bag she purchased from a camping store.
Both strategies have proven to be remarkably effective. The 27-year-old Olyslagers clinched the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, while the 22-year-old Mahuchikh secured the bronze. Mahuchikh recently triumphed at the world outdoor championships held in Budapest in 2023, and Olyslagers emerged victorious at the world indoor championships in Glasgow earlier this year. Notably, on July 7, Mahuchikh shattered a 37-year-old world record with a breathtaking jump of 6 feet 10¾ inches (or 2.10 meters) during a meet in Paris.
For Nicola Olyslagers, her journal serves as more than just a collection of thoughts; it acts as a training diary and a reference tool that allows her to reflect on and analyze her past performances. This practice helps her stay focused and mentally prepared.
Credit for the image of Olyslagers goes to Chang W. Lee/The New York Times.
Interestingly, Mahuchikh and Olyslagers will not have to contend with their most significant competitor for the gold, the reigning Olympic champion Mariya Lasitskene of Russia, who is absent from the competition. Due to the ongoing conflict resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, no Russian athletes, including those classified as neutral, are allowed to compete in track and field events at the Paris Games.
Both Mahuchikh and Olyslagers embody the quintessential characteristics of a high jumper—tall, lean, and athletic. While Mahuchikh’s world record leap exceeds Olyslagers’s personal best of 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters) by more than two inches, both athletes have consistently risen to the occasion at pivotal moments, securing Olympic medals and world titles throughout their careers.
