---
title: "Bureaucracy vs. Records: Iryna Herashchenko to Miss the Diamond League Meet in London"
description: "Iryna Herashchenko will miss the Diamond League leg in London due to visa issues 🚫🇬🇧. Instead, Marija Vuković will compete in the high jump sector. Yaroslava Mahuchikh will have to fight new rivals! 🏃‍♀️🔥"
date: 2026-07-20T10:38:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/bureaucracy-vs-records-herashchenko-to-miss-diamond-league-london
tags: [iryna-herashchenko, yaroslava-mahuchikh, diamond-league, london, sport-rbc-ua]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Bureaucracy vs. Records: Iryna Herashchenko to Miss the Diamond League Meet in London

![Ukrainian track and field athlete Iryna Herashchenko mid-jump on the stadium track, despite missing the London Diamond League leg due to bureaucratic hurdles](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/20/gerashchenko-ne-uletela-v-london-problemy-s-vizoy/gerashchenko-ne-uletela-v-london-problemy-s-vizoy-1.webp)

An intrigue is unfolding in Ukrainian athletics regarding personnel changes ahead of one of the season's major starts. 31-year-old high jumper Iryna Herashchenko, whose participation in the London competition was officially scheduled, was unable to fly to the start. The official reasons for the athlete's absence from the entry list have not yet been announced, however, sources are already citing the main issue.

According to Sport RBC.UA citing "Suspilne Sport," the main reason for Herashchenko's absence was bureaucratic difficulties. The athlete herself spoke openly about document problems at the recent Ukrainian Championship in Lviv: she failed to obtain a visa for the United Kingdom in time, putting her participation in the tournament in serious doubt.

"The visa for London for the Diamond League is still in question. Either we will compete in London, or we will prepare directly for the European Championships," the athlete explained the situation.

### Changes in competition for Yaroslava Mahuchikh

Herashchenko's absence significantly changes the balance of power in the high jump sector. Instead of the Ukrainian star, Montenegrin representative Marija Vuković was included in the competition. This means that the main hope of Ukrainian athletics, Olympic champion and world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, will have to compete against a new rival.

Mahuchikh, who, unlike Herashchenko, will participate in the London leg, will face stiff competition. She will have to fight not only with Marija Vuković but also with traditional rivals: Nicola Olyslager, Australian Eleanor Patterson, and Serbian Angelina Topić.

### Season after maternity leave: successes and misses

The current season has been Iryna Herashchenko's first since returning from maternity leave. The return went with mixed success: the athlete managed to compete in one Diamond League leg in Shenzhen, China, where she won a silver medal. However, Iryna missed the very next leg in Rabat, Morocco.

Now, having missed London, Herashchenko will most likely switch her focus to preparing for the European Championships. The main European start of the season will take place from August 10 to 16 in Birmingham, England. It is this tournament, according to the athlete herself, that became the priority in case participation in the London competition is impossible.