High jumper Oleh Doroshchuk – about life with 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 Championship and made it into 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 go further. First and foremost, 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 in which grade you grew significantly?
In the 10th grade. In fact, at 17 years old, 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, thin. But I wouldn’t say it played a decisive role. I just really enjoyed jumping, and that was the main thing.
My main competitor is myself
In fact, at the age of 20, you started competing for the senior national team. How difficult was it to combine youth and senior competitions?
Difficult. I was still too weak physically and, above all, 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 junior level and only then move on to senior competitions.
What was the turning point in professional sports after which you began to feel confident in your jumps?
In my opinion, it was the 2024 Paris Olympics, where I was not the favorite but performed successfully and set a personal best of 2.31m. This performance gave me significant confidence in my own 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 does not put moral pressure on me”
Since 2024, you have been in the world top – third at the European Championships, sixth at the Olympics. And a year later, you won your first senior title, winning the European Indoor Championships with a result of 2.34m. How did these successes change you, both in a sporting and purely human sense?
I remained the same person I was. However, I now have new goals. And, most importantly, there is a greater desire to work and compete, there is more motivation.
This year, you confidently won the World Indoor Championships. What was the most challenging aspect of these competitions?
Confidently… It probably looked that way from the outside. In reality, it wasn’t easy. This year’s winter season, 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 title of world champion not put moral pressure on you? In Ukraine, they 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 you cannot win all the time. I approach this thoughtfully and understand that this is sport: today you win, and tomorrow you don’t.
Last year, you said 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 additional payments, I receive almost 9,000 UAH.
Have any brands approached you for advertising cooperation after your World Championship victory?
No, they haven’t. If there were offers, I think you would have already found out about it. 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 July Ukrainian Championship in Lviv?
Yes, I plan to. It will be a qualifier for the European Championship, which will be held in August in Birmingham. Therefore, my participation is mandatory.
Who do you consider your main competitors this season?
My main competitor is myself. Sometimes it’s much harder to beat yourself than someone else. Therefore, I always compete with myself first and foremost. And, of course, with the bar.
By the way, what are your “relations” with the bar? Some athletes whisper to it before a jump, some hypnotize it with their gaze.
Before a jump, I look at the take-off point. So, I don’t engage in any bar hypnosis. In general, I am not superstitious. I don’t have any omens or rituals.
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’ll say it will be great to compete with him. Barshim is a great athlete, and I slightly regret that I wasn’t in the sector when he was really shining and winning everything. So far, we have only crossed paths at the 2024 Olympics.
Oleh Doroshchuk called his performance at the 2024 Olympics a breakthrough photo: Getty Images
Does breaking your personal best of 2.34m feature in your plans for this year?
Of course, it does. Especially since my summer record is currently only 2.31m. But my indoor record is 2.34m. Somehow, I tend to set my personal best indoors first, and then “catch up” to it in the summer. So, I want to jump higher on the stadium track.
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 at one time. So, surpassing Bondarenko is also a dream. But it requires a lot of work.
The world record of Cuban Javier Sotomayor – 2.45m has stood for 32 years and seems “eternal.” Currently, no one from the modern generation has come close to this height. Why? Does a new unique Sotomayor need to be born, or perhaps a Duplantis of high jump will appear who will churn out record after record?
Previously, at major competitions, jumpers started from 2.28m. Including Bondarenko. Who knows, perhaps the generation then was more talented and hardworking. They say their training volumes were larger.
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 Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova stood for 36 years – “Glavkom”). And our Yaroslava Mahuchikh jumped 2.10m.
I don’t know, perhaps 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 excites me as much as high jumping does.”
Where do you see room for improvement in your results? For example, in recent seasons, Yaroslava Mahuchikh has been actively changing her run-up 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 example, high jumping technique can be perfected infinitely. I believe that I haven’t had a perfect jump yet. There are flaws in every jump. So, the recipe is one – 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 about 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 why Ukrainians are constantly 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 locations abroad?
I train in Ukraine 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, after 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, you can train on the stadium, in the forest, and on the beach.
The full-scale war has been ongoing for over four years – are competitors at competitions perhaps no longer as interested in events in Ukraine?
Regarding athletes, I still communicate little with colleagues. But 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 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 understandable why.
Outdoor recreation, fishing, and cars – are these still your hobbies?
Yes, nothing has changed. But it’s not as easy to get out into nature now. For example, I last fished in the autumn of last year. I relaxed with my friends – Artur Felfner (javelin thrower, part of the Ukrainian national athletics team – “Glavkom”) and an old friend Anton, who has been serving in the Armed Forces since the beginning 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 would gladly do that.
Where do you see yourself after your athletic career ends?
I don’t know yet. I want to find something that excites me as much as high jumping does. Maybe something related to cars.
Svyatoslav Vasylik, “Glavkom”