Background

On August 30, 1987, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Stefka Kostadinova set a new world record by clearing 2.09m. Her previous best was also her own record of 2.08m, achieved in 1986 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Since then, no modern high jumper had surpassed her record. Blanka Vlašić came close with a 2.08m jump outdoors in 2009, and Kajsa Bergqvist matched it indoors with another 2.08m.

The Historic Jump

Today, at the Charlety Stadium in Paris, during the Diamond League, 22-year-old Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh made history. She became the first woman to break the 2.10m barrier, claiming one of the most enduring world records.

Mahuchikh needed 11 jumps to clear 2.10m. She started at 1.92m, which she cleared on her first attempt, passed 1.95m on her second try, and 1.98m on her first.

The bar was then set at 2.01m, which she cleared on her second attempt, followed by 2.03m and 2.07m, also on her second try, setting a personal best and a new national record for Ukraine.

Finally, she raised the bar to 2.10m and, with an exceptional jump that hinted she could go even higher, she made history.