ROC’s Mariya Lasitskene wins Olympic gold in high jump

Maria Lasitskene, the three-time world champion in the high jump, is finally an Olympic champion.

In her Olympic debut on Saturday, the 28-year-old Lasitskene won a gold medal in the high jump final, becoming the first athlete to win a track and field gold for the Russian Olympic Committee at the Tokyo Games.

In two attempts at 2.04 meters, Lasitskene beat out Australia’s Nicola McDermott and Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh.

In the end, Lasitskene was the only athlete to clear the mark, with McDermott jumping 2.02 meters to earn silver and Mahuchikh holding on to the bronze medal at 2.00 meters.