Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh won the gold medal in the women’s high jump at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, by clearing 1.97 meters on her first attempt. This victory marks her third consecutive European title, following previous wins in 2022 and 2024.
Mahuchikh began the competition at 1.92 meters, which she cleared on her first try, before needing a second attempt at 1.95 meters. After successfully clearing 1.97 meters to secure the gold, she made three unsuccessful attempts at 2.01 meters.
Poland’s Maria Zhodzik claimed the silver medal, and Montenegro’s Marija Vukovic earned the bronze. Both athletes successfully cleared 1.95 meters but failed all three attempts at 1.97 meters. Meanwhile, fellow Ukrainian competitor Iryna Herashchenko finished in fifth place after successfully jumping 1.92 meters but failing to clear 1.95 meters.
With this latest European Championship victory, Mahuchikh tied the historical record for the most high jump European titles set by Spain’s Ruth Beitia, who won three consecutive gold medals in 2012, 2014, and 2016. In addition to her European titles, Mahuchikh is a world champion, having won gold at the 2023 World Championships. Her recent continental victory follows another gold medal performance at the World Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, earlier in the year, where she cleared 2.01 meters.
