Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the world record holder, won Olympic gold at the Stade de France and intrigued the world with her unique habit of lying under a green bedroll between jumps, seemingly ‘napping or meditating.’

Surprising one and all with her unique method at the ongoing Paris Olympics, Mahuchikh explained her routine as a way to relax and focus by counting numbers or watching clouds. 

This method, which helped her clear a 2-meter bar to secure gold, started in 2018 when she won the Youth Olympic Games.

“I feel comfortable when I lay and sometimes I can watch the clouds,” Mahuchikh told TIME Magazine. She added, “Sometimes I can count numbers, 1,2,3,4, or breathe in, breathe out. It is like, relax, and not think about that I am at the stadium.”

Her coach, Serhii Stepanov, also informed that it was to prevent blood from pooling in her legs. She always carries a yoga mat, a sleeping bag, and spare socks to competitions, or wears a hoodie. Due to wear and tear from her spikes, she gets a new sleeping bag each season. Mahuchikh recommends this approach for comfort in various weather conditions.