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One of the brightest stars of today´s athletics, world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, is set to visit Slovakia again.

The world's best specialized high jump meeting with music – Banskobystrická latka – will enter its fourth decade of existence in 2025, and the organizers promise a truly spectacular show in February. One of the brightest stars of today´s athletics, world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, is set to visit Slovakia again. The 23-year-old Ukrainian athlete was recently recognized as the Field Events Female Athlete of the Year by World Athletics. In 2024, Mahuchikh broke Stefka Kostadinova's 37-year-old world record by clearing 2.10m at the Diamond League meeting in Paris. She confirmed her top-contender status at the Olympic Games, completing her collection of victories in practically every existing competition. Despite her young age, she has already competed in BBL five times, achieving her second-best career performance of 2.06m here in 2021. Mahuchikh has won the competition three times and will enter the upcoming edition as the one to beat.

“I am happy to be back in Banska Bystrica. It will be one of my very few starts in indoor season. In winter, my goal is to win at european and world indoors. I am really looking forward to the usual great support of Banská crowd.”

Her main challenger will be Angelina Topić, a 19-year-old Serbian talent returning to Štiavničky as the defending champion after winning in her debut with a personal best of 1.97m. Topić is the youngest-ever winner of the event (18 years, 6 months, and 19 days at the time of her victory). This rising star of European athletics improved her personal best to 1.98m this summer (a height she has cleared twice) and added a silver medal at the European Championships in Rome to her growing collection. Additionally, she claimed two victories in prestigious Diamond League meetings and concluded her season with the world junior champion title in Lima. The only blemish on her season was an injury that prevented her from competing in the Olympic Games final in Paris, where she would have been a strong contender for a medal. Topić aims to break the magical 2-meter barrier, and the Štiavničky hall, known for its excellent conditions, could be the perfect venue for this milestone. She will also be accompanied by her father and coach, Dragutin Topić, a European champion from 1990 and the current holder of the world junior record. Dragutin himself competed at the BBL in 2003.

An exciting battle is shaping up in the men’s competition, with three finalists from this year’s Olympic Games already confirming their participation.

Italian Stefano Sottile impressed in Paris with an outstanding personal best of 2.34m, taking sensational fourth place. He narrowly missed the bronze medal, awarded to Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, by just one missed attempt at 2.31m. Sottile previously competed in Banská Bystrica in 2023, where he placed sixth with a clearance of 2.20m. This time, his ambitions will undoubtedly be higher.

Returning to the event is Tihomir Ivanov, a representative of Bulgaria’s high jump school. A four-time BBL participant, the 2019 World University Games champion secured 8th place at this year’s Olympics. Ivanov’s personal best stands at 2.31m, and he holds the record for the best performance by a 23-year-old in the history of the meeting.

That record might be challenged by the third Olympic finalist, Jan Štefela of the Czech Republic. Coached by the legendary Jaroslav Bába, Štefela has consistently performed at a high level, regularly threatening the 2.30m mark. The 2021 European U23 champion from Tallinn has achieved several strong finishes at senior-level competitions, including fifth place at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and the European Championships in Rome. He finished 9th in Paris. For Štefela, who aims to regularly claim medals at international events, Banská Bystrica will serve as an excellent stepping stone towards the upcoming European Indoor Championships.

Slovakia will also have its representative returning to the stage. The 20-year-old Robert Ruffíni Jr. equaled his personal best of 2.15m during his BBL debut last year. In the strong international field, Ruffíni Jr. will aim to improve this mark. The bronze medalist from the European U20 Championships is set to compete at the 2025 European U23 Championships, currently being ranked 9th in the reduced qualification standings. His father and coach, Robert Ruffíni Sr., holds the still-standing Slovak record of 2.34m.

The 31st edition of the BBL will also mark the farewell of one of the legends of the high jump sectors. Donald Thomas, the 40-year-old athlete from the Bahamas, has previously announced that the upcoming season will be his last.

Thomas is one of the most consistent participants in the history of the meeting, with eight appearances to date. Already the second-oldest competitor in the event's history (the record is held by Dalton Grant, who competed at the age of 43), Thomas will tie Michal Kabelka for third place in the all-time number of starts with his ninth appearance.

The 2007 World Champion from Osaka, with a personal best of 2.37m, has always been a crowd favorite. Thomas will undoubtedly aim to deliver a memorable performance to cap off his illustrious career in style.

In both competitions, there will be a great opportunity to meet the qualification standards for the European Indoor Championships 2025 in Apeldoorn (230 cm and 196 cm), the World Indoor Championships 2025 in Nanjing (234 cm and 197 cm), the World Championships 2025 in Tokyo (233 cm and 197 cm), and to earn important points for the qualification rankings.

Ticket sales will begin in January. The live broadcast will be prepared by STVR Sport and European Athletics via their broadcasting platform.

So far, men from 47 countries and women from 35 countries have participated in BBL, with a total of 54 countries represented.

The BBL 2024 participants earned a bronze medal in both the men’s and women’s events at this year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, as well as five top 5 placements overall. At the European Championships in Rome, they earned a silver in the women’s and a bronze in the men’s event, with a total of 11 final placements. At the Olympic Games in Paris, they earned a bronze medal in the women’s event and five final placements across both categories.

The world's best specialized high jump meeting with music – Banskobystrická latka – will enter its fourth decade of existence in 2025, and the organizers promise a truly spectacular show in February. One of the brightest stars of today´s athletics, world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, is set to visit Slovakia again. The 23-year-old Ukrainian athlete was recently recognized as the Field Events Female Athlete of the Year by World Athletics. In 2024, Mahuchikh broke Stefka Kostadinova's 37-year-old world record by clearing 2.10m at the Diamond League meeting in Paris. She confirmed her top-contender status at the Olympic Games, completing her collection of victories in practically every existing competition. Despite her young age, she has already competed in BBL five times, achieving her second-best career performance of 2.06m here in 2021. Mahuchikh has won the competition three times and will enter the upcoming edition as the one to beat.

“I am happy to be back in Banska Bystrica. It will be one of my very few starts in indoor season. In winter, my goal is to win at european and world indoors. I am really looking forward to the usual great support of Banská crowd.”

Her main challenger will be Angelina Topić, a 19-year-old Serbian talent returning to Štiavničky as the defending champion after winning in her debut with a personal best of 1.97m. Topić is the youngest-ever winner of the event (18 years, 6 months, and 19 days at the time of her victory). This rising star of European athletics improved her personal best to 1.98m this summer (a height she has cleared twice) and added a silver medal at the European Championships in Rome to her growing collection. Additionally, she claimed two victories in prestigious Diamond League meetings and concluded her season with the world junior champion title in Lima. The only blemish on her season was an injury that prevented her from competing in the Olympic Games final in Paris, where she would have been a strong contender for a medal. Topić aims to break the magical 2-meter barrier, and the Štiavničky hall, known for its excellent conditions, could be the perfect venue for this milestone. She will also be accompanied by her father and coach, Dragutin Topić, a European champion from 1990 and the current holder of the world junior record. Dragutin himself competed at the BBL in 2003.

An exciting battle is shaping up in the men’s competition, with three finalists from this year’s Olympic Games already confirming their participation.

Italian Stefano Sottile impressed in Paris with an outstanding personal best of 2.34m, taking sensational fourth place. He narrowly missed the bronze medal, awarded to Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, by just one missed attempt at 2.31m. Sottile previously competed in Banská Bystrica in 2023, where he placed sixth with a clearance of 2.20m. This time, his ambitions will undoubtedly be higher.

Returning to the event is Tihomir Ivanov, a representative of Bulgaria’s high jump school. A four-time BBL participant, the 2019 World University Games champion secured 8th place at this year’s Olympics. Ivanov’s personal best stands at 2.31m, and he holds the record for the best performance by a 23-year-old in the history of the meeting.

That record might be challenged by the third Olympic finalist, Jan Štefela of the Czech Republic. Coached by the legendary Jaroslav Bába, Štefela has consistently performed at a high level, regularly threatening the 2.30m mark. The 2021 European U23 champion from Tallinn has achieved several strong finishes at senior-level competitions, including fifth place at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and the European Championships in Rome. He finished 9th in Paris. For Štefela, who aims to regularly claim medals at international events, Banská Bystrica will serve as an excellent stepping stone towards the upcoming European Indoor Championships.

Slovakia will also have its representative returning to the stage. The 20-year-old Robert Ruffíni Jr. equaled his personal best of 2.15m during his BBL debut last year. In the strong international field, Ruffíni Jr. will aim to improve this mark. The bronze medalist from the European U20 Championships is set to compete at the 2025 European U23 Championships, currently being ranked 9th in the reduced qualification standings. His father and coach, Robert Ruffíni Sr., holds the still-standing Slovak record of 2.34m.

The 31st edition of the BBL will also mark the farewell of one of the legends of the high jump sectors. Donald Thomas, the 40-year-old athlete from the Bahamas, has previously announced that the upcoming season will be his last.

Thomas is one of the most consistent participants in the history of the meeting, with eight appearances to date. Already the second-oldest competitor in the event's history (the record is held by Dalton Grant, who competed at the age of 43), Thomas will tie Michal Kabelka for third place in the all-time number of starts with his ninth appearance.

The 2007 World Champion from Osaka, with a personal best of 2.37m, has always been a crowd favorite. Thomas will undoubtedly aim to deliver a memorable performance to cap off his illustrious career in style.

In both competitions, there will be a great opportunity to meet the qualification standards for the European Indoor Championships 2025 in Apeldoorn (230 cm and 196 cm), the World Indoor Championships 2025 in Nanjing (234 cm and 197 cm), the World Championships 2025 in Tokyo (233 cm and 197 cm), and to earn important points for the qualification rankings.

Ticket sales will begin in January. The live broadcast will be prepared by STVR Sport and European Athletics via their broadcasting platform.

So far, men from 47 countries and women from 35 countries have participated in BBL, with a total of 54 countries represented.

The BBL 2024 participants earned a bronze medal in both the men’s and women’s events at this year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, as well as five top 5 placements overall. At the European Championships in Rome, they earned a silver in the women’s and a bronze in the men’s event, with a total of 11 final placements. At the Olympic Games in Paris, they earned a bronze medal in the women’s event and five final placements across both categories.