2024-09-16 20:52:01
Comparisons between the Bulgarian and the Ukrainian pose many unanswered questions
It has been more than two months since Yaroslava Maguchih overcame 210 cm and thus improved by one centimeter the world record in the high jump, which was held by the Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova for nearly 37 years. However, the result of the Ukrainian remains somewhat shrouded in mystery and still raises many questions that await their answers…
The 210cm achievement came out of the blue as Maguchich suddenly and very unexpectedly improved his summer results by nearly 10cm and then did not confirm such potential in a single start. The competitions for this year ended with the last two major tournaments of the season, in which the Ukrainian won with the “non-presentable” respectively in Zurich 196 cm and in the final of the Diamond League in Brussels 197 cm, and in both cases she made three unsuccessful attempts at 201 cm .
Experts wonder how it is possible to jump around 2 meters for a whole season and in just one tournament to “explode” with a phenomenal world record of 210 cm, waited for almost four decades, and then by the end of the year to “come down” again on both meters. This is not very typical in athletics and is currently difficult to explain, as analysts and statisticians are looking for an answer to this “10-centimeter mystery”.
We put aside the conspiracy theories that flooded social media. The topic of the world order and the “correct mainstream” is too sensitive not only for Bulgarians, but for people all over the world. Recently, the topic of “transgenderism” and the participation of men in women’s startups has become too controversial. Doubts arose as to whether there was no “green corridor” for the Ukrainian and whether everything regarding the doping control of this tournament was in order. And also – were the heights measured correctly when raising the bar during the competition in Paris.
All this can go into the “conspiracies” section, but outside of them there are several serious things that still cause confusion about the new world record and make this 210 cm “mysterious”.
First of all, the record is not yet recognized by the World Athletics Association. On the official website of World Athletics, Maguchich’s achievement has been standing for the third month with an asterisk in front and the explanation that it is awaiting ratification. Moreover, Stefka Kostadinova’s record of 209 cm is still at the top there. This is not an isolated case and sometimes the recognition of a given result takes longer. The strange thing is that at the same tournament in Paris, the Kenyan Faith Kipyegon broke the world record in 1500 m with 3:49.04 min, and the achievement was long recognized by the World Athletics Association. What is causing the delay in ratification and why has it not happened three months already, and Stefka continues to stand in the world records with her 209 cm next to the asterisked result of Maguchich?
In addition, overcoming these almost 40 years of waiting 210 cm was not televised live, despite the live broadcast of the tournament in Paris. A unique blunder by directors and TV producers or a planned blackout… As a long-time athletics TV commentator, I simply cannot believe that anyone would “miss” live broadcasting a world record attempt, even more so in the women’s 210 cm. And this it’s not a device throw where you don’t know when what distance will be achieved, in the high jump it is clear and visible to everyone in advance what height is being attacked and if successful it will be a phenomenal achievement, not to mention always a world record the re-measurement by the judges is then broadcast live on television, with a close-up of the metric device confirming the height of the bar…
In addition, Stefka Kostadinova’s record has recently come under unprecedented pressure. For decades, these 209 cm “stung the eyes” of a number of officials and bosses of world athletics, and they insisted on annulling the achievement of the Bulgarian woman. Their reasons were that similar results were achieved long ago, in other times, that such records would remain eternal, which hindered development and stifled interest in athletics. However, those “concerned about the future of the sport” are silent and do not explain where their fears and predictions about the eternal and unattainable record of the Bulgarian woman went…
Here we should note that Stefka Kostadinova immediately congratulated Yaroslava after the Ukrainian took away her record. What’s more – a month earlier, the Bulgarian kissed her for luck, wishing her Olympic gold with a record while handing her the medal for the European title in Rome.
Now everyone is wondering about Maguchich: is such an inexplicable momentary “cosmic explosion” possible in the form of a competitor, and why he was not confirmed with similar results until the end of the season.
And in order to provide unbiased information and for everyone to draw their own conclusions, I delved into the statistics and compared hundreds of data in the development and sports careers of Stefka Kostadinova and Jaroslava Maguchich. This was helped by the coincidence that both set the world record when they were 22 years old.
Here’s what the facts say, pointing out again that they’re based on the same age for both contestants – up to 23, which Maguchih will turn Thursday, September 19:
COMPETITIONS OVER 200 CM UNDER 23 YEARS:
Stephka 46
Yaroslav 23
In total, in her career, Stefka has jumped over 200 cm 197 times in 130 competitions, and Maguchih, with her current “pace” of 6 times per season, will need nearly 30 years for the Bulgarian to reach.
“HIGHEST WINS” BEFORE AND AROUND THE WORLD RECORD:
With Stefka until 23 years old
209 cm – once
208 cm – once
207 cm – 3 times
206 cm – 6 times
205 cm – 6 times
With Yaroslav until 11 p.m
210 – once
206 – once (in 2021)
205 – once (in 2022)
It is important to emphasize that in only four competitions after the age of 23, Stefka jumped 205 cm – in 1992 in Sofia and in San Marino, in 1993 in Fukuoka and in 1996 in Atlanta. All her other achievements above this height were until 1988, when she was 23 years old.
In addition, there is “elevation 204”: Stefka won with 204 cm 12 times, Blanka Vlasic 11, Maria Lasickene 9, Heike Henkel 6, and Maguchich 2 times so far.
IN THE YEAR OF THE RECORD
Kostadinova jumping in 1987:
209 in Rome on 30 August
207 in Cagliari on September 16
206 in Wörstadt on June 6 and in Rieti on September 6
205 in Indianapolis, Padua, Oslo and Budapest
Maguchich overcomes in 2024:
210 in Paris
201 of the EP in Rome
200 at the Olympics, in Stockholm and in New York indoors
204 in January in Cottbus
Stefka has eight jumps over 205 m, and Maguchich has only one – the “record”…
IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF THE RECORD
In 1986, Stefka jumped:
208 once for a world record
207 once to equal the world record
206 twice
205 twice
204 once
In all 12 of her competitions in 1986, Stefka jumped over 2 meters
In 2023, Maguchich overcomes
203 one time
202 twice
201 twice
200 four times
In 10 of her 19 races last year, Yaroslava did not clear 2 meters.
THE PERPETUAL RANKING LIST, which covers all the results recorded in the high jump
In the Top 10 of all time
Stefka owns 5 of the top 10 jumps (all achieved by the age of 22)
Maguchich has only one (the questionable “cosmic” 210 cm)
In the Top 20 Stefka has 11 of the best results (all under 22)
Maguchih has only one
A quarter century after she stopped jumping, Kostadinova still owns more than half of the successful attempts above this height in the history of mankind.
In the Top 50 (this covers all jumps over 205cm) Stefka has 21 of the best results – almost half, with only 4 of them coming after the age of 23
Maguchich has 2
For comparison, Blanka Vlasic has 9
AND MORE
The average sum of the 10 most successful attempts of Stefka Kostadinova until the age of 23 is a unique 207 cm, with Maguchich it is 204 cm.
The closest to Stefka’s record and with the most failed attacks so far are Lasickene and Blanka Vlasic plus Elena Slesarenko.
Stefka’s sports career spanned 14 years, but all 6 of her world record breakings occurred in a relatively short period of 20 months. He made his first world record at the age of 21, then in 1986 he broke two world records within seven days of each other.
Stefka attacked her own world record of 209cm 19 times, most recently at the Atlanta Games, immediately after winning the long-awaited Olympic gold at 205cm. Now we wait to see how many times Maguchich will attack her 210cm.
These are the facts from unbiased sports statistics. Based on them, everyone can make their own conclusions and conclusions.
Maguchih now faces the difficult task of proving himself. To reject the doubts and the asterisk in his name. If he continues to jump every time in the range of 200-201 cm – it will not be OK. If it rises steadily upwards, it will prove that everything is fine and will bring down the infidels.
Otherwise, the situation will be somewhat confusing and will leave a stain forever on this result in Paris. Plus the doubts that someone improperly encroached on Stefka Kostadinova’s famous Bulgarian record due to economic or other reasons outside of sports. The world deserves the truth about how high women can jump and who the tallest lady on the planet is.
Time, as the truest judge from the distance of years, will tell.