Cypriot champion Elena Kulichenko gained seventh place in high jump, at the 33rd Olympic Game finals in Paris on Sunday.

Kulichenko made history at the “Stade de France” as the first Cypriot athlete in track and field to compete in a final, and indeed in her first participation in the Olympic Games.

In Sunday’s final, Kulichenko cleared 1.86m on her first attempt, 1.91m on her second and 1.95m on her third, and then had three failed attempts at 1 .98m, finishing her effort in seventh place, tying with Uzbekistani Safina Sadullayeva for whom 1.95m is also her best performance this year.

Speaking after the event Kulichenko said she had mixed feelings about coming so close to gaining a medal.

“I have mixed feelings. I [came] very close but I feel great, this will make me even more hungry for distinction next year,” she said.

“I am very satisfied with the result of 1.95, once in my career I managed to pass 1.95 and that’s why I feel satisfied both with the effort and for the result,” she added.

To the packed stadium, the Cypriot champion said that the crowd was amazing and that she had a great time.

“I can say that today the final was not as stressful as in the qualifying phase. I tried to keep my composure and stay focused on my goal and despite the failed attempts I tried to do my best,” she added.

Referring to the fact that she was Cyprus’ flag bearer at the opening ceremony, Kulichenko said that “it was an honour to share the flag of Cyprus with her teammates and thanked the federation from supporting her.

As for being the first Cypriot woman to take part in a track and field final, Kulichenko said: “It’s an incredible feeling, it’s a dream come true and the truth is if someone had told me a few years ago that I would have this opportunity I wouldn’t have believed them.”

Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh took the gold medal with a 2.00m jump in her first attempt while Australian Nicola Olyslagers took silver with a 2.00m on the third attempt. Iryna Gerashchenko, also from Ukraine and Eleanor Patterson, from Australia both won bronze.

Both Olympic bronze medalists had a best jump of 1.95m, which is also their best performance this year, and which they passed on the first attempt.

Fifth place was attained by Vashti Cunningham from the USA, and sixth by German Christina Honsel with 1.95m jumps.