Barely smiling Maria wins third World championship Gold medal , celebrates without a flag or anthem
Russian athletes Mariya Lasitskene who competes as authorized neutral athlete won her third consecutive World Championship gold medal clearing 2.04m on Monday, but there was no flag for her to celebrate just like other athletes and she barely smiled.
Despite winning 2015, 2017 and now 2019 world championship, Maria did not get to represent her country Russia, who are banned by World Anti-Doping Agency. Despite been favorite to win the Rio Olympic Gold medal in 2016, Maria did not get the chance to compete due to the ban where she was later allowed to compete as a neutral athlete. her routine between jump was the same , She cleared all of her heights 1.84m, 1.89m , 1.94m , 1.96m , 2.0m , 2.02m , and 2.04m in her first attempt , walked near where her things sit down in meditation pose and stayed in her own world until the next attempt. With only she remaining in the competition she tried to clear 2.08m without a success.
She barely smiled during the competition and even after it as she pose for the camera , she did in similar style to pole vault gold medalist Anzhelika Sidorova from Russia who also competed as neutral athlete .
Mariya Lasitskene (RUS) – gold
On what was changed after she lost two weeks ago:
“I already forgot about these competitions and result that made me unhappy. I listened to my coach who always says: If you afraid – just afraid, but always listen to my instructions and everything will be OK. So, I did like he said, I did my best. I can say today I really struggled for every jump.
On how she is satisfied with her technique today:
“I have to say that I never watch the technique of my jumps so I cannot just explain my todays’ jumps in technical point of view. The main point for me is that the bar has to stay on the stands.
On why she tried to jump 208 but not 210:
“Because I wanted to set a new national record.
On how much she’s thinking about Tokyo 2020:
“Tonight, I want to just enjoy my today’s victory. Our preparation for Tokyo has already started and these championships were one of the stepping stones.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) – silver
On competition:
“It was more about for getting ready for the next year. Competition was good. Two other guys did very well. I am very happy to get silver here. I did not only win a medal but I overcame myself. I set two personal bests and decided to stop because I think that I am too young to jump 206. Maybe, I will try it later.
On her coach:
“Her support means a lot to me. If she was not here, I think I would not have been able to jump 204. Usually, I stop my competition after I set the personal best. But today, I asked my coach if I can continue. And she agreed saying that she believes in me.
On her plans out of athletics:
This year I started my education at the Sport University as I’m really dreaming to become the coach in the future.
Vashti Cunningham (USA) – bronze
On competition:
Competition was really good today and I am excited going over 200 and I am excited to start my preparation to Tokyo 2020. I am just looking forward to starting the training again and working for those things.
On coaching by her father:
My coach and dad plans much more things for me in the future. I am happy to get on the world stage and get for him the glory, that is what I came here for. We have an incredible, more than daughter – dad relations. We’re like a friends as we’re travelling a lot all over the world.
