by Stuart Weir
Aussie, Aussie High Jump – new run-ups aplenty
Nicola Olysagers won her second World Indoor high jump gold medal, followed by Eleanor Patterson for an Australian 1-2. Yaroslava Mahuchikh experienced a rare defeat, taking bronze. The competition had a slightly early season feel, saying it must be confusing for two Australians to leave their country in late summer to compete in an indoor event!
There were 10 athletes in the competition. Seven were successful at 1.92, but after 1.95, only four were still standing: the three medalists and Angelina Topic. Olysagers, who had a perfect series until failing at 1.99, won on countback from Patterson, who had one earlier failure. Mahuchikh and Topic had one unsuccessful attempt at 1.97 and two at 1.99.
Olysagers said afterward: “This is the first time I’ve come to try and defend something outside of Australia. I knew that if I wanted to jump as high as I needed, to be as competitive, I needed to do things outside of my normal comfort zone. I needed something new, like starting a world championship as my first season competition. You know, do something crazy. Going into it, I was inspired by Yaroslava (Mahuchikh)’s world record last year and how she changed her run-up. So, I was jumping with a new run-up today. I want to jump as high as Yaroslava. If I am going to be competitive, I need to try and change things up. Today was harder than I thought it would be, trying to do something new”.
Patterson summed up her experience: “Any athlete who is an athlete is competitive. I want to be on top of the podium, but I obviously have huge respect for the women I’m up against. This is an event where you’ve got to stick to your own process and stay in your own corner in all ways. You battle it together but want to bring your best on the day. Today was OK, but jumping into Tokyo outdoors will be incredible. It’s been a long year, so there is a lot of competition between now and then. I have very high standards and know I can jump much higher with this new run-up I’ve created”.
The world record holder said about her bronze medal: “I’m OK. I think we should respect every gold because, as an athlete, I know how much it takes. They are doing amazing out there. I have gold and silver from the previous WIC, so this bronze is OK. I will take it. Coming from a European indoor, I had some injury. During today’s jumps, I felt it was not a good 1.95m, but I was sure that 1.97m would be great. So I started running, and unfortunately, my ankle was not good. I didn’t feel any pressure; I just enjoyed the atmosphere of the competition. I could see I had so many fans out there for me, and I received presents from them. That’s wonderful. I need more work with my ankle since I feel it’s not stable. I ran With one jump, but with another, I was not running. So, I think I will work on it to come back stronger. I’ll be looking forward to the coming outdoor season”.
Nicola Olysagers is famous for her journal, which she wrote during the competition: “Today I was writing so many notes to myself. The light of life lives in me [ A reference to her Christian faith], and I have something to share today. It doesn’t matter if I jump 1.85 or 2.09, the world record; I know I have something great to give, so I’m going to give it my all”. She also referred to being half-Croatian. How Blank Vlasic was her first high jump inspiration. She said her goal as a teenager was to jump as high as Blanka. Still, she is not quite there yet”.
The women’s high jump looks like being one of the highlights of 2025.
