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High jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh wins Ukraine's 1st individual gold of the Paris Olympics

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High jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh wins Ukraine's 1st individual gold of the Paris Olympics
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High jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh wins Ukraine's 1st individual gold of the Paris Olympics

2024-08-05 06:17 Last Updated At:06:21

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — It was a night for war-torn Ukraine to rejoice.

Thousands of Ukrainians watched on YouTube as high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh won gold for the country she was forced to flee, then celebrated with two teammates who also medaled at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.

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Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, competes in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, competes in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, competes in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, competes in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, celebrates winning the gold medal in women's high jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, celebrates winning the gold medal in women's high jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, reacts after his third place finish in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, reacts after his third place finish in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Iryna Gerashchenko, left, and Yaroslava Mahuchikh, both of Ukraine, take a victory lap after Mahuchikh won the gold and Gerashchenko won the bronze medal in the women's high jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Iryna Gerashchenko, left, and Yaroslava Mahuchikh, both of Ukraine, take a victory lap after Mahuchikh won the gold and Gerashchenko won the bronze medal in the women's high jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, second from right, of Ukraine, jumps with silver medalist Nicola Olyslagers, right, of Australia, and bronze medal winners Iryna Gerashchenko, second from left, of Ukraine, and Eleanor Patterson, left, of Australia, following the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, second from right, of Ukraine, jumps with silver medalist Nicola Olyslagers, right, of Australia, and bronze medal winners Iryna Gerashchenko, second from left, of Ukraine, and Eleanor Patterson, left, of Australia, following the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, and bronze medalist Iryna Gerashchenko, both of Ukraine, celebrate after the the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, and bronze medalist Iryna Gerashchenko, both of Ukraine, celebrate after the the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, right, of Ukraine, is congraulated by Nicola Olyslagers, of Australia, left, after winning the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, right, of Ukraine, is congraulated by Nicola Olyslagers, of Australia, left, after winning the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Iryna Gerashchenko, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Iryna Gerashchenko, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Nicola Olyslagers, of Australia, reacts in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Nicola Olyslagers, of Australia, reacts in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, prepares to compete in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, prepares to compete in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, rests before competing in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, rests before competing in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Iryna Gerashchenko shared bronze in the high jump and Mykhaylo Kokhan then claimed a bronze in the hammer throw, too — doubling Ukraine's Olympic medal haul from three to six in the span of about an hour.

“Medals are very important for Ukraine because the people are having a very happy time, and they can cheer us and they can celebrate this with us and not think about the war for one day,” Kokhan said.

Mahuchikh, who left her home due to the war with Russia, earned Ukraine’s first individual gold of these Summer Games, following a victory in women’s team saber fencing on Saturday.

She is from Dnipro, a city of nearly 1 million located only about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the front lines of the war. When Russia invaded, she piled as much as she could into her car and left town quickly. On her way out, she heard gunfire and could, at times, see shells raining down miles away.

The next time she returns, it will be as an Olympic champion.

Once the medals were assured, Mahuchikh and Gerashchenko ran down the track waiving Ukrainian flags, prompting a standing ovation at the Stade de France.

Then, when the two high jumpers were given special permission to run over and embrace Kokhan, all three Ukrainian medalists posed together with their blue and yellow flags.

It wasn't all about celebrating, though. Mahuchikh also recalled the "almost 500 sportsman (who) died in this war.

“They will never compete. They will never celebrate. They will never feel this atmosphere," she said, adding that her gold medal is "really for all of them.”

Mahuchikh succeeds Tokyo gold medalist Maria Lasitskene, a Russian who — along with everyone else from her country — has been banned from track and field’s international events since the country invaded Ukraine.

Russian rockets and missiles constantly knock out Ukraine's power grid. But Gerashchenko said that the electricity was working on Sunday,

“Today we have internet, we have light and on the YouTube channel, around 160,000 people (watched) online,” she said.

Mahuchikh cleared 2.00 meters to finish ahead of Nicola Olyslagers of Australia, who also cleared 2.00 but then failed all three of her attempts at 2.02.

Eleanor Patterson of Australia and Gerashchenko shared the bronze at 1.95.

Mahuchikh considered jumping again and could have tried to break the world record of 2.10 that she set less than a month ago in another Paris stadium. But then she stopped and started celebrating.

Mahuchikh was asked why she didn't make any further attempts.

“Why not? I was Olympic champion,” she said.

Mahuchikh also gained curiosity for the way she lies down and wraps herself up in a type of sleeping bag between jumps. She said it helps her relax: “Sometimes I can watch the clouds...not think about that I’m at a stadium.”

Mahuchikh claimed the first Olympic gold of her career, adding to the bronze she won in Tokyo. She also won gold at last year’s world championships.

“It’s all medals for our country, Ukraine, for our defenders," she said. "Only thank(s) (to) them we have opportunity to be here.”

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, competes in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, competes in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, competes in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, competes in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, celebrates winning the gold medal in women's high jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, celebrates winning the gold medal in women's high jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, reacts after his third place finish in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Mykhaylo Kokhan, of Ukraine, reacts after his third place finish in the men's hammer throw final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Iryna Gerashchenko, left, and Yaroslava Mahuchikh, both of Ukraine, take a victory lap after Mahuchikh won the gold and Gerashchenko won the bronze medal in the women's high jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Iryna Gerashchenko, left, and Yaroslava Mahuchikh, both of Ukraine, take a victory lap after Mahuchikh won the gold and Gerashchenko won the bronze medal in the women's high jump at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, second from right, of Ukraine, jumps with silver medalist Nicola Olyslagers, right, of Australia, and bronze medal winners Iryna Gerashchenko, second from left, of Ukraine, and Eleanor Patterson, left, of Australia, following the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, second from right, of Ukraine, jumps with silver medalist Nicola Olyslagers, right, of Australia, and bronze medal winners Iryna Gerashchenko, second from left, of Ukraine, and Eleanor Patterson, left, of Australia, following the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, and bronze medalist Iryna Gerashchenko, both of Ukraine, celebrate after the the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, and bronze medalist Iryna Gerashchenko, both of Ukraine, celebrate after the the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, right, of Ukraine, is congraulated by Nicola Olyslagers, of Australia, left, after winning the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, right, of Ukraine, is congraulated by Nicola Olyslagers, of Australia, left, after winning the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Iryna Gerashchenko, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Iryna Gerashchenko, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Nicola Olyslagers, of Australia, reacts in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Nicola Olyslagers, of Australia, reacts in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, prepares to compete in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, prepares to compete in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, rests before competing in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, rests before competing in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, competes in the women's high jump final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

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Borussia Dortmund fires coach Nuri Sahin after dismal start to new year

2025-01-22 16:46 Last Updated At:16:50

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund fired coach Nuri Sahin on Wednesday, a day after its 2-1 loss to Bologna in the Champions League.

The loss extended Dortmund's losing streak to four games since the new year and dropped last season's Champions League runner-up to 13th in the standings. Dortmund is also struggling in the Bundesliga, where it's 10th.

“We really value Nuri Sahin and his work, we had wished for a long cooperation and until recently we hoped that we could manage to turn things around in sporting terms," sporting director Lars Ricken said in a statement.

"After four losses in a row, with just one win from the last nine games and currently being 10th in the Bundesliga, unfortunately we lost our faith in being able to achieve our sporting goals in the current configuration. This decision is personally painful for me too, but it was no longer avoidable after the game in Bologna.”

There was no immediate word on a successor. Dortmund's next game is Saturday in the Bundesliga against Werder Bremen.

The 36-year-old Sahin had been Dortmund coach since June. He had been an assistant to Edin Terzic, who resigned following Dortmund's 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final, saying the club needed to enter a “new era” without him.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Dortmund's head coach Nuri Sahin grimaces during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Dortmund's head coach Nuri Sahin grimaces during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

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