World rivals were left behind: Levchenko and Herashchenko forced the Diamond League to talk about Ukraine

Ukrainian high jumpers Yuliya Levchenko and Iryna Herashchenko secured a double podium at the Diamond League stage in Chinese Xiamen. Levchenko won the competition with a mark of 1.99 meters, while Herashchenko finished second, clearing 1.97 meters. Third place went to Lamari Distin of Jamaica with a result of 1.94 meters.

Ten athletes competed in the women’s high jump event. For both Ukrainians it was the first start of the summer season. Yuliya Levchenko competed after her “silver” at the World Indoor Championships, and Iryna Herashchenko returned to the Diamond League series after a break related to pregnancy and childbirth.

At the opening heights the Ukrainians acted confidently. Levchenko and Herashchenko cleared the first four heights on their first attempts, including the height of 1.91 meters. Also flawless at this stage were only Lamari Distin of Jamaica and Australian Eleanor Patterson. At 1.94 meters Yuliya Levchenko cleared it on her first attempt, while Iryna Herashchenko did so on her second. For Herashchenko this result became her best since her performance at the 2024 Olympic Games, where she jumped 1.95 meters.

The contest then intensified at the bar set at 1.97 meters. Iryna Herashchenko cleared it on her second attempt, improving her season best. Yuliya Levchenko cleared the height on her third attempt and remained in contention for the victory. After that the Ukrainians effectively staged a head-to-head duel for the “gold” at 1.99 meters. In the decisive moment the stronger athlete was Yuliya Levchenko: she cleared the bar on her final attempt and finished the competition with the win.

For Yuliya Levchenko this is the second victory at Diamond League stages in her career. She first won an event in this series in 2020 at the stage in Rome. It is also her first Diamond League medal in three years: in 2023 in Chorzów she was the bronze medalist. For Iryna Herashchenko this is her first Diamond League podium in two years. She last stepped onto the podium in the season final of 2024, where she took bronze.

The double podium in Xiamen was the Ukrainians’ first in-person double success at this level in three years. For Ukraine it is also the country’s first double podium at Diamond League stages since September 2024, when Yaroslava Mahuchikh won at the series final.

Results of the Diamond League stage in Xiamen, women’s high jump:

1st place – Yuliya Levchenko, Ukraine – 1.99 meters
2nd place – Iryna Herashchenko, Ukraine – 1.97 meters
3rd place – Lamari Distin, Jamaica – 1.94 meters

Previously we wrote:

• Ukrainian Mahuchikh won gold for Ukraine at the World Athletics Championships
• Will to win: Olga Kharlan became the new heroine of the autumn issue of Vogue Ukraine Edition
• 400 meters? For Anton Smiyan it’s just a warm-up: Mykolaiv athletes win medals again
• Three first places in two days: young athletes from Mykolaiv made a big statement at the All-Ukrainian championships
• Mykolaiv on the move: young athletes collected medals like mushrooms after the rain