"They Went Crazy": Maguchikh Recounts Enraging Russians by Shouting "Glory to Ukraine!" at World Championships

Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Maguchikh has opened up about the moment she sparked outrage among Russian fans by shouting "Glory to Ukraine!" after winning a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

"They went crazy," Maguchikh told Ukrainian news outlet Tribuna. "They started booing me, throwing things at me, and shouting obscenities."

The incident occurred on July 19, after Maguchikh had cleared a height of 2.05 meters to finish second behind Australia's Eleanor Patterson.

As she stood on the podium, Maguchikh raised her fist and shouted "Glory to Ukraine!", a slogan that has become synonymous with the country's resistance to the Russian invasion.

Her gesture was met with a chorus of boos from the Russian fans in the stadium, who began throwing objects at her and shouting abuse.

Maguchikh said she was not surprised by the reaction, but she was still saddened by it.

"I knew that there would be some negative reaction, but I didn't expect it to be so intense," she said.

"It's really disappointing that people can't put their political differences aside and just enjoy sport," she added.

Maguchikh's gesture of defiance has been widely praised in Ukraine, where she has been hailed as a national hero.

The Ukrainian Athletics Federation has also expressed its support for Maguchikh, saying that she has "shown great courage and patriotism."

The incident has also sparked a debate about the role of politics in sports, with some arguing that Maguchikh's gesture was inappropriate and that she should have focused on competing rather than making a political statement.

However, others have defended Maguchikh's right to express her support for her country, especially in light of the ongoing Russian invasion.