High jumper Oleh Doroshchuk – about life at a height of 2.05m and his attitude towards changing citizenship
Ukrainian Oleh Doroshchuk has rapidly entered the world elite of high jumping. In his very first season at the senior level, he became a medalist of the European Championships and ranked in the top 6 at the Olympics. This was followed by a victory at the European Indoor Championships, and this year Doroshchuk became the World Indoor Champion.
At 24 years old, Oleh has already achieved what most athletes do not accomplish in their entire careers. However, the Ukrainian’s ambitions reach further. Primarily, he wants to improve his results and dreams of record heights.
«At 17, I was already two meters tall»
Oleh, let’s start with a non-sporting question. How difficult is it to live with a height of 2.05m?
Yes, there are inconveniences. Primarily, in everyday life or during travel – in a car, on a train.
Are there problems with finding clothes and shoes?
There are no problems with clothes. Our sponsor provides me with everything, so it’s easier in that regard.
Do you remember which grade you grew significantly?
In the 10th grade. In fact, at 17, I was already two meters tall.
Did your height play a decisive role when you chose high jumping?
Of course, anthropometrically I am ideally suited for high jumping – tall and lean. But I wouldn’t say it played a decisive role. I simply enjoyed jumping very much, and that was the main thing.
My main competitor is myself
In fact, you started competing for the senior national team at the age of 20. How difficult was it to combine youth and senior competitions?
Difficult. I was still physically weak for it, and, most importantly, psychologically. And my coach Hennadiy Zditovetsky did not want this transition to happen so early. He believed that I should have “jumped enough” at the youth level before moving on to senior competitions.
What was the turning point in senior sports, after which you began to feel confident in your jumps?
In my opinion, it was the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where I was not a favorite but performed successfully and set a personal record of 2.31m. This performance gave me significant confidence in my abilities.
Oleh Doroshchuk and his coach Hennadiy Zditovetsky, who comes from the famous athletics school in Berdychiv photo: Athletics Federation of Ukraine
«The world champion title doesn’t put moral pressure on me»
Since 2024, you have been in the world’s top tier – third at the European Championships, sixth at the Olympics. A year later, you won your first senior gold medal, winning the European Indoor Championships with a result of 2.34m. How did these successes change you, both in sports and in a purely human sense?
I remained the same as I was. However, I now have new goals. And, most importantly, there is a greater desire to work and compete, more motivation.
This year, you confidently won the World Indoor Championships. What was the most challenging aspect of these competitions?
Confident… It probably looked that way from the outside. In reality, it was not easy. The winter season this year, I admit, was difficult for me. I was unhappy with my jumps. But the victory at the World Championships gave me confidence for future starts. And that’s the main thing.
Does the world champion title not put moral pressure on you? In Ukraine, people now expect only victories and medals from you.
I honestly admit – it doesn’t. The goal was to win the championship – I achieved it. As for expectations, you understand that one cannot win all the time. I approach this thoughtfully and understand that this is sport: today you win, tomorrow you don’t.
Last year, you mentioned that you receive a monthly scholarship of 400 UAH from your hometown of Kropyvnytskyi. Have these payments increased?
Yes, they have increased. Now, with all supplements, I receive almost 9,000 UAH.
Have any brands approached you for advertising collaboration after your World Championship victory?
No, they haven’t. If there were offers, I think you would have already found out. Currently, my sponsor since 2019 is Puma, which collaborates with many Ukrainian track and field athletes.
«I am not superstitious. I don’t have any omens or rituals»
Do you plan to compete in the Ukrainian championship in Lviv in July?
Yes, I plan to. It will be a qualifier for the European Championships, which will take place in August in Birmingham. Therefore, my participation is mandatory.
Who do you consider your main competitors this season?
My main competitor is myself. Sometimes, beating oneself is much harder than beating a competitor. Therefore, I always compete primarily with myself. And, of course, with the bar.
By the way, what is your “relationship” with the bar? Some athletes talk to it before jumping, some hypnotize it with their gaze.
Before jumping, I look at the takeoff point. So, I don’t engage in any bar hypnosis. In general, I am not superstitious. I don’t have any omens or rituals.
The legendary high jumper Mutaz Barshim is returning this year after an injury. Will it be difficult to compete with him at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship – a new tournament from World Athletics?
I will say that it will be cool to compete with him. Barshim is a great athlete, and I regret a little that I wasn’t in the arena when he was truly shining and winning everything. So far, we have only crossed paths at competitions at the 2024 Olympics.
Oleh Doroshchuk called his performance at the 2024 Olympics a breakthrough photo: Getty Images
Does breaking your personal record of 2.34m factor into your plans for this year?
Of course, it does. Moreover, my summer record is currently only 2.31m. But the indoor record is 2.34m. It somehow happens that I first set my indoor record, and then “catch up” to it in the summer. So, I want to jump higher on the stadium.
Is a jump of 2.40m realistic for you in the coming years? Perhaps you dream of breaking the Ukrainian record held by Bohdan Bondarenko – 2.42m?
I’ll say this – it’s my dream. Every jumper wants to join the “2.40 Club” (a list of athletes who have cleared the bar at a height of 2.40m and above – “Glavkom”). I am no exception. As for Bohdan Bondarenko’s record, he cleared 2.42m more than once. And he also attempted to clear the bar at the record height of 2.47m in his time. So, surpassing Bondarenko is also a dream. But for that, one needs to work a lot.
The world record of the Cuban Javier Sotomayor – 2.45m has stood for 32 years and seems “eternal.” Currently, no one from the current generation has come close to this height. Why? Does a new unique Sotomayor need to be born, or could there be a Duplantis in high jumping who will churn out record after record?
Previously, at major competitions, jumpers started from 2.28m. Bondarenko, in particular, also started like that. Who knows, maybe the generation then was more talented and hardworking. They say that the volume of work in training was greater for them.
Every jumper wants to join the “2.40 Club”
Although, for women, the world record was also called “eternal” (the jump of 2.09m by the Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova stood for 36 years – “Glavkom”). And our Yaroslava Mahuchikh went and jumped 2.10m.
I don’t know, maybe in time there will be a new phenomenon in high jumping. But now, jumping high and improving results is only possible gradually, step by step, through hard work. However, this season it is quite possible that someone will clear 2.36m or even 2.40m.
«After finishing my career, I want to find something that will ignite me just as much as high jumping»
Where do you see room for improvement in your results? For example, in recent seasons, Yaroslava Mahuchikh has been actively changing her approach to jump over 2.10m. Do you have similar plans, or will you refine your current technique?
In fact, there is still a lot of room for improvement. For instance, high jumping technique can be perfected endlessly. I believe I haven’t had a perfect jump yet. There are flaws to be found in every one. Therefore, there is only one recipe – a lot of work and avoiding injuries.
Why do you think Ukraine has such a strong school of high jumping?
Ukraine has rich traditions in high jumping and many strong coaches. Everyone has heard of the renowned athletics school in Berdychiv (founder Vitaliy Lonsky – “Glavkom”), which has produced many athletes and coaches. In particular, my coach Hennadiy Zditovetsky is also a graduate of this school. I believe that a large number of talented coaches is the key to Ukrainians always being at the forefront in this track and field discipline.
I haven’t had a perfect jump yet
How has training changed during the war? Where do you train in Ukraine? Are there favorite training spots abroad?
In Ukraine, I train in my hometown of Kropyvnytskyi at the “Zirka” stadium. Since 2014, the arena has had a Mondo surface, which is used in top-tier international competitions. There is also a modern indoor facility here. Of course, over 12 years, the surface has somewhat worn out, but I’m not complaining. I am comfortable here and have all the necessary conditions.
Regarding training camps abroad, my favorite place is Portugal. There, one can train on the stadium, in the forest, and on the beach.
The full-scale war has been going on for over four years – are athletes perhaps less interested in events in Ukraine at competitions?
Regarding athletes, I still communicate little with colleagues. However, foreign journalists at the World Championships in March did ask a lot about the war and my training. Especially since this winter in Ukraine was not easy. I had to train without electricity and without heating.
World champion Oleh Doroshchuk believes he needs to improve his jumping technique photo: Getty Images
Have you received any offers to change your citizenship?
No, they haven’t. And even if they had, I wouldn’t consider them. I think it’s clear why.
Outdoor recreation, fishing, and cars – are these still your hobbies?
Yes, nothing has changed. But it’s not so easy to get out into nature now. For example, I last went fishing in the autumn of last year. I rested with my friends – Artur Felfner (javelin thrower, member of the Ukrainian national athletics team – “Glavkom”) and an old friend Anton, who has been serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the start of the war and came on leave.
Where do you dream of fishing? Perhaps somewhere in the ocean?
Definitely not in the ocean. But finding a nice spot on the Dnipro River and fishing there for 4-5 days – I’d love that.
Where do you see yourself after your athletic career ends?
I don’t know yet. I want to find something that will ignite me just as much as high jumping. Maybe something related to cars.
Sviatoslav Vasylik, “Glavkom”