Ukrainian High Jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh Donates Olympic Winnings of $24,000 to Help Animals

Olympic gold medallist, Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh is winning hearts with her kind gesture.

22-year-old Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine, is a world champion when it comes to the women’s high jump category.

She won a gold medal for her 2.04-meter-high jump in the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024 and has forged her name in the history of the sport.

If this was not enough, the Ukrainian high jumper won hearts again when she announced the donation of $24,000 or one million hryvnias to save animals.

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The gold medallist proved that she has a heart of gold when she decided to donate a part of her Olympic 2024 winnings to several animal rescue and shelter organizations.

She’s giving away money to UAnimals, an organization involved in saving animals and the environment, especially the ones affected by war in the frontline areas.

Apart from them, she has also supported four other animal shelters – Homeless World, Helping Animals in Sumy, Shelter Pegasus Dnipro, and Dnipro Animals.

Due to the war, many animals have been left homeless; animal rescues and shelters can take care of them if they receive aid.

Mahuchikh has urged people to adopt animals from shelters and save a life while they can, apart from providing them financially and through volunteering.

She also explains in a video clip shared on Instagram that her cat is an adopted animal and not purebred, but he is her favorite jumper and the best in the world.

She also promised to donate some of her winnings to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and psychological support funds. She believes she was able to travel to Paris and win the gold due to the sacrifice of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Mahuchikh created a world record in the women’s high jump at the Diamond League held in Paris on July 7, 2024. She is now the first woman to clear 2.10 meters in the high jump, shattering the previous world record set by Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova, 37 years ago.

The UAnimals officials also thanked her in an Instagram post for her contribution, as they can now provide food, medical help, and shelter to thousands of animals.

Lyudmila Smolyar, Head of the UAnimals Communications Department stated, “We dream that one day helping animals will become a common and everyday thing in Ukrainian society, and it is such powerful voices as the voice of Yaroslava Mahuchikh that bring this moment closer.”