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Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Photo: REUTERS / Hannah Mckay)
Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh has been named among 10 nominees for the 2026 women’s European Athlete of the Year award, European Athletics announced.
The winner will be determined through four equally weighted voting groups.
Fan voting, European Athletics member federations, media representatives and an expert panel will each account for 25% of the final result.
Along with Mahuchikh, the nominees are:
- Nadia Battocletti of Italy — 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters;
- Sofia Fiorini of Italy — marathon race walk;
- Amy Hunt of Great Britain — 100 meters and 200 meters;
- Georgia Hunter Bell of Great Britain — 800 meters and 1,500 meters;
- Henriette Jæger of Norway — 400 meters;
- María Pérez of Spain — half-marathon race walk;
- Jessica Schilder of the Netherlands — shot put;
- Audrey Werro of Switzerland — 800 meters;
- Emma Zapletalová of Slovakia — 400-meter hurdles.
Mahuchikh has previously won the prestigious award.
European Athletics named her the women’s European Athlete of the Year in 2024 following a season in which she set the high jump world record and won Olympic and European titles.
The 24-year-old Ukrainian therefore has an opportunity to claim the award for a second time.
Mahuchikh adds Ultimate Championship title to stellar season
Mahuchikh recently won the women’s high jump at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
She cleared her opening heights of 1.91 and 1.95 meters (6 feet, 3.2 inches and 6 feet, 4.8 inches) on her first attempts.
Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers was the only other athlete to clear 1.95 meters.
The decisive height was 1.99 meters (6 feet, 6.3 inches), which Mahuchikh cleared on her second attempt, while Olyslagers failed to clear the bar.
Earlier in the season, Mahuchikh and fellow Ukrainian high jumper Iryna Herashchenko won gold and silver, respectively, at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland.
Mahuchikh also won the European high jump title for a third consecutive time in 2026.
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