PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Former pole vaulter and Ukrainian Sergej Bubka has not spoken out very often since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It is now receiving criticism from world high jump champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh.
– Bubka does not exist for us now, she says to NRK.
Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh, 22, took World Cup gold in the high jump just over a month ago. She then followed that up by taking home the victory in the Diamond League final. The successes come after a tough time since her homeland was invaded by Russia.
The hometown was bombed
The high jumper says that on the same day her parents were to take the train to cheer her on during the WC in Budapest, the bus station, which is right next to the train station, was bombed. While she was fighting to qualify for the WC final.
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But Mahuchikh is determined to continue competing.
– It is difficult to maintain focus, but after a year of war I have become stronger and better equipped. I know I should keep competing. Here I can talk about the fact that the war is not over and show that I come from Ukraine, she says to NRK.
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Criticizes Sergej Bubka
Mahuchikh has been very vocal about the invasion and the war. Someone who doesn’t speak out as much is the former pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, who was recently inducted into the athletics “Hall of Fame”. His silence is now being criticized by the Ukrainian.
– It is very strange because I am very proud of Bubka as an athlete, because he set many world records. But I don’t like him as a person, because at the beginning of the war he didn’t take a stand. For us athletes, Bubka does not exist now, she says.
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According to Bihus.info, Bubka has sold petroleum services to Russian actors in the Donbas area via the company “Mont Blanc”, which led to investigations in Ukraine.
– It seems terrible, because he was for a long time the president of the Olympic Committee of Ukraine. But he has made his choices, says Mahutsjik about the data.
Sergej Bubka is the world’s best pole vaulter and Ukraine’s greatest athlete of all time after his six World Cup golds, 35 world records and his Olympic gold during his career.
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