Ukrainian high jumper Mahuchikh sets world record with unique routine

Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh secured a gold medal in high jump at the Olympic Games. Prior to one of her attempts, she demonstrated an unusual relaxation method by using a sleeping bag. This is the secret to her success.

During the Olympic Games in Paris, Yaroslava Mahuchikh achieved what seemed impossible. She cleared a bar set at a height of 2.13 metres. In doing so, she broke a 37-year-old record held by Bulgaria's Stefka Kostadinova and won the gold medal.

Before her jump, cameras and photographers captured the Ukrainian entering a sleeping bag prior to one of her attempts. It turns out this is her routine behaviour before the most important competitions. At one point, it seemed like she even took a nap. "I feel comfortable when lying down, and sometimes I can watch the clouds," she said, quoted by expressdigest.com.

Yaroslava Mahuchikh pays special attention to the proper position of her head. She often rests it on a backpack, but sometimes she also uses a pillow. Additionally, at the arena in Paris, she was spotted sipping an energy drink, which she claims helps her maintain concentration.

According to "The New York Times", the Ukrainian first "jumped" into a sleeping bag during the Youth Olympic Games in 2018, held in Buenos Aires. Journalists reported that her coach, Serhii Stepanov, suggested that sitting too long between jumps could cause blood to pool in athletes' legs, affecting their performance.

Since then, Yaroslava Mahuchikh always carries not only a sleeping bag but also a backpack, in which she keeps a yoga mat, among other things. Additionally, the jumper revealed that she receives a new sleeping bag every year.