Vladimir Yashchenko

Vladimir Ilyich Yashchenko (Russian: Владимир Ильич Ященко) or Volodymyr Yashchenko (Ukrainian: Володимир Ященко) (born 12 January 1959) was a Ukrainian member of the Soviet national team and former world record holder in the high jump. Yashchenko first began competing in the high jump at age 12.

In June 1977, he jumped 2.33 m (7 ft 7+1⁄2 in) at the USA-USSR junior dual meet in Richmond, Virginia, breaking the previous world record of 2.32 m (7 ft 7+1⁄4 in) set by Dwight Stones in August 1976. In 1978, he finished in first place at the European Athletics Championships and the European Athletics Indoor Championships with heights of 2.30 m (7 ft 6+1⁄2 in) and 2.35 m (7 ft 8+1⁄2 in), respectively, while using the straddle technique.

In 1979, he suffered a severe knee injury, effectively ending his career. He died in 1999 from cirrhosis.