STORY: About a week ago, the 20-year-old Ukrainian Yaroslawa Mahuchich celebrated the success of her life: On March 19, she won the indoor world championship title in the high jump in Belgrade, Serbia. In the middle of the war, she had left her country for the sporting event to travel to Serbia. Her odyssey lasted three days. But it was worth accepting all this, says the young athlete. “I’m happy to bring happiness to so many people in Ukraine, because otherwise they only read bad news all day. And when they saw that I won the gold medal for all Ukrainians at an international event, I smiled conjured up their faces.” She didn’t want to go back to Ukraine. That’s why she’s currently staying in Herzogenaurach with her sponsor Puma, like many others. It is the company’s tender attempt to offer the athletes an alternative family – in these difficult times, as Björn Gulder, managing director of the sporting goods manufacturer, explains: “Now we have about 110 people from Ukraine, mothers and children, who will then be here are. And we organize everything for them, so, apartment, we try to get a work permit. The children have the kids club. And that is now part of the Puma family. Yaroslava Mahuchich, who just became world champion, who is then one of them, because she’s also part of our family.” That’s why Mahutschich doesn’t just train on her own, she also guides many children in games and sports. The distraction helps and it’s also entertaining. Nevertheless, the young woman has the seriousness of the situation clearly in mind. “Yes, of course, this is a gold medal that I dedicate to the Ukrainians and to the military that protects our country in the country. And I protect my country on the sports field. I am very proud to represent my country on the international stage.” But in the end it’s all about the fact that all Ukrainians wish that the Russian war of aggression will be over as soon as possible so that they can finally have as much carefree fun in their own homeland as they are in Herzogenaurach at the moment.