Who Is Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s Coach? Everything About Tetiana Stepanova

Yaroslava Mahuchikh—the Ukrainian high jump phenom who’s been smashing records and defying gravity like it’s no big deal. You know her as the athlete who finally broke a 37-year-old world record in 2024, soaring over 2.10m in Paris, then casually snagging Olympic gold days later with a flawless 2.00m jump (Ukraine’s first individual gold in Paris, btw). Oh, and let’s not forget her gutsy 2025 World Indoor Championships run in Nanjing, where she competed injured after bagging her third European indoor title. Absolute legend behavior.

But here’s the real question on everyone’s mind: Who’s the mastermind behind this high-jump sorcery? Enter Tetiana Stepanova—Mahuchikh’s coach, strategist, and the reason behind her relentless rise. She turned a prodigy into a record-breaking, podium-dominating person. Here is all you need to know about Stepanova.

Who is Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s coach, Tetiana Stepanova?

Born in Dnipro, Ukraine, in 1966, Tetiana Stepanova was a beast on the track long before she became a coaching icon. Back in her heyday, she crushed the 400m hurdles as a Soviet Union Candidate for Master of Sport—think elite-level grit with a side of Cold War-era athletic glory. After graduating from the Dnipro State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports, she pivoted to coaching, landing at Dnipro’s Sports School No. 3 in 2014. That’s where fate stepped in: A teenage Yaroslava Mahuchikh was training there, splitting time between Stepanova and another coach, Olena Kutsenko. Spoiler: Stepanova won the long game, becoming Mahuchikh’s primary mentor as the athlete skyrocketed to world records and Olympic gold.

But it hasn’t all been podium confetti. Stepanova’s low-key rep hit a snag in 2021 when Mahuchikh faced heat for hugging Russian rival Mariya Lasitskene at the Tokyo Olympics—a gesture that sparked fury back home amid Ukraine’s tensions with Russia. Stepanova, caught in the crossfire, nearly walked away from coaching altogether, eyeing moves to Germany, Cyprus, or Austria. But loyalty won out: She stayed put, doubling down on her mission to mold Mahuchikh into a legend.

Tetiana Stepanova’s career highlights and achievements

Tetiana Stepanova isn’t just Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s coach—she’s the architect behind Ukraine’s high-jump dominance. Since taking Mahuchikh under her wing in 2013, she’s transformed a raw junior talent into a global superstar. Mahuchikh made a world record of 2.10m in Paris 2024 and won Olympic gold with the iconic 2.00m clearance in Paris—all stamped with Stepanova’s tactical genius.

But wait—there’s more. The Ukrainian Athletic Federation crowned her Best Rising Star Athlete Coach three times, in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Moreover, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Sports Press Association doubled down, naming her Best Athlete Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

While Yaroslava Mahuchikh was laser-focused on chasing her third straight European Indoor title in Apeldoorn (2025)—all while carrying the weight of a nation enduring turmoil — her journey screams one truth: Behind every gravity-defying leap is Tetiana Stepanova’s genius. Mahuchikh’s story isn’t just about clearing bars — it’s about resilience, pride, and a coach-athlete duo that refuses to back down. Whether she’s battling injuries, geopolitical tensions, or the pressure of being Ukraine’s beacon of hope, Stepanova’s been the steady hand guiding her through the chaos. And honestly? That’s the kind of partnership that doesn’t just win titles — it defines legacies.

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