Yordanka Blagoeva in front of FACTS: It hurts me for Svetlana, to make an Olympics for "it"

World record holder Yaroslava Maguchich (Ukraine) is the new women's high jump champion at the Paris Olympics with a result of exactly 2 meters. The Ukrainian, who at the beginning of July improved Stefka Kostadinova's world record in this discipline (br. – 209 cm), had an equal result at the end of the competition with Nicola Olislagers (Australia). How does he see this Olympic medal… The legendary Yordanka Blagoeva spoke to FACTS.

- Mrs. Blagoeva, the Olympiad is at its climax, because we have passed the middle of the race. The Ukrainian Maguchich became the Olympic champion in the high jump, as expected. But how will you comment on her result of 2 meters?
- Before commenting on Maguchih's participation, I want to be completely frank. I have attended five Olympic Games, participated in four, and I watch all the others with interest. I dare say that sport is the greatest social phenomenon that unites people and nations. We know when a competitor from a country wins, what euphoria covers the whole nation, what love, what pride is felt. And now, for the first time, I don't feel that way about this Olympics. This is my opinion.

- Why?
- Well, because of the things that are happening. Because of the inaccuracies, because of the river Seine… My friends have told me that the French throw their refrigerators into the river, everything… And now they decide to hold races in Senna. We see how a contestant has a problem and is in the hospital after swimming in the river. Second, this with these unproven “women”. I also have a gender test from 1968 that says I am 100% female. This is from the Olympics in Mexico. But then there was a blood test, and not only to have a passport, that someone is a woman. I want to be very frank. There may be a lot of criticism later, but this is my opinion, because my whole life has been spent in sports - it is not possible for a competitor of unknown gender to fight with women. As I watched Svetlana Kamenova… I was just bored. And somehow I have the feeling that the judges tolerate this too, maybe the whole policy of the IOC is like that… Sorry, but with my 77 years and my “outdated value system” I cannot accept the new European values.

- And let's go back to the high jump and Maguchich?
- I was very excited. Whenever there's a high jump, whether it's women's or men's, it doesn't matter, I look forward to the competition. But I expected much more. I admit. Much has been said about Maguchich's world record, but I don't know why it hasn't been recognized yet. Some measurement was expected, it is not very clear to me. When I was making world records, a committee would come and measure – left, right, middle to prove that this is indeed such a height. I expected much more from the Ukrainian. It even happened that Australian Nicola Ollislagers could narrowly beat her. But maybe the Australian didn't believe it herself. After jumping 210cm a month ago, Maguchih should have jumped at least 205cm or 207cm. Yes, I read a lot of reactions on social media. Yes, it's not every day you jump a world record, but… The pole vaulter has dozens of attempts at 205 cm, at 207 cm. When a competitor jumps 205 cm or 207 cm, he just confirms what he can do. You can't go from 210 cm in this wonderful weather, the track everyone says was very good, to 2 meters and become an Olympic champion. There hasn't been such a weak high jump for years. Otherwise, congratulations to her. She is an Olympic champion, she has the medal she was missing, but by 2 meters…

- If the Australian had made a successful attempt at 202 cm…
- It would be very interesting. Olislagers clearly expected a strong result from Maguchich right from the start, but it didn't happen. Everything was about to change. And then this joy that Maguchich displayed was so artificial. He initiated them to get on the jump, began to jump, at one point he thought of starting to shout. With all due respect, Maguchich did get the medal she was missing from her collection, but she left that 210cm in question. Maybe that's why the International Athletics Federation hasn't ratified this achievement yet. In fact, Stefka remains the current world record holder.

- Is there a procedure or a deadline for entering this record?
- They were already entered because one procedure went through, seven world records. They were approved. In fact, only hers is not approved, which surprises me greatly. I confess honestly, I hope it is not like with Dancheto Donkova, when they tried to make her out that she is not a woman. And when they found out that there are three children – they fell silent. And the one that improved her world record, then disappeared.

- And let's go back to “those“ in boxing. Where has fair play gone in sports…
- For me especially these girls - I don't know what to call them, who fight against women… This is not fair. The whole world shared the idea of keeping women's sport, that was the purest thing in sport - that fair play that floated, that existed, that triumphed. And now, suddenly, with these, everything went dark. We also saw the opening… God forbid that the closure is not the same, because such disputes arise with these liberal European values. I am very disappointed. Today, the fair play that was there before is gone. During those 20 years of sports career, 17 of which I was in the national team, on the field we fought, we fought, but off the field we were all great friends. We used to gather together. I also give an example. When the spikes on my spikes broke at a competition in Belgrade, the Russian Valya Kozir gave me her spike without a moment's hesitation. I came second, she fourth. And she could have won a medal if she hadn't helped me. And now in boxing… They deprived us of a medal in boxing. Svetlana was a sure medal winner. My heart hurts for Svetlana, to make an Olympics for “it“.