World high jump record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh thrilled her home supporters as she started her season in brilliant style, setting an early season world lead of 2.03m at the Demianiuk Memorial in Lviv on Saturday (17).
Making her first appearance on Ukrainian soil since 2020, this was one centimetre higher than the Ukrainian managed throughout 2025 and augurs well for a return to top form for Mahuchikh, who lost her world title last year, settling for bronze in Tokyo.
Her international teammate Oleh Doroshchuk won the men’s competition at the high jump-only meeting in Lviv with 2.24m.
Mahuchikh and Dorushchuk both triumphed at the Apeldoorn 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships and will be hoping for another medal-laden year with the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy-Pomorze (Torun) on 20-22 March and the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on 10-16 August.