The women’s high jump record was broken today after a 37-year wait, thanks to the historic achievement of Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh.
At today’s Diamond League meeting in Paris, Mahuchikh achieved the “magical” height of 210 centimeters.
She thus broke the record held for 37 years by Stefka Kostadinova of Bulgaria, who set it in 1987 in Rome.
Kostadinova cleared 209 centimeters back then, and for nearly four decades, athletes have tried to surpass her. The closest was Croatia’s Blanka Vlašić, who managed to clear 208 centimeters at one point.
Today, Ukrainian Mahuchikh first cleared 207 centimeters, then immediately decided to raise the bar to 210 centimeters, and on her first attempt, she made history.
Mahuchikh is the favorite to win gold at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, which begin on July 26.
