Mariya Lasitskene, an Olympic champion and three-time World champion in the high jump, launched her distinguished international career with a silver medal at the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics. She followed this initial success by earning a gold medal at the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. These early achievements quickly established her as a formidable competitor, setting the foundation for a career marked by consistent high-level performance. Lasitskene secured her first major senior titles with a gold medal at the 2014 World Indoor Championships and a silver medal at the 2014 European Championships, before capturing a gold medal at the 2015 European Indoor Championships.

Beyond her athletic career, Lasitskene holds the professional rank of senior lieutenant in the Russian Armed Forces.