Athletes usually head to the stadium with the essentials—gum, headphones, boots, and kits. But add a sleeping bag to that list, and you have Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s secret ingredient for success. The Ukrainian star isn’t just known for her record-breaking jumps but also for a ritual almost no one else dares to follow. Between rounds, she slips into her bag, stretches out on a mattress, and enters what looks like hibernation mode while the arena buzzes with tension. As she explains, “I lie down so that I have to get up less often, warm up, run, and spend all my energy just on jumping.” And it works, time and again. Even at the Tokyo World Championships, the ritual stayed the same, as the crowd once again witnessed the classic “Sleeping Beauty” recharging in her trademark style.

At the Wome

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