World Indoors: High Jump Gold for Nicola Olyslagers

2 March 2024

World Indoors: High Jump Gold for Nicola Olyslagers

Central Coast’s Nicola Olyslagers has won Australia’s seventh gold medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships this morning in Glasgow. In a nail-biting competition against arch rival, Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, Nicola negotiated 1.99m on her third attempt to take the title.

It is NSW’s fourth world indoor champion following Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (200m 1995), Kerry Saxby-Junna (3000m walk 1989), and Fabrice Lapierre (long jump 2010).

Nicola opened at 1.88m and was clear over 1.92m and 1.95m, while Mahuchikh started at 1.92m and was clear at 1.95m too. Mahuchikh then took the lead at 1.97m clearing on her first attempt, while Nicola needed a second attempt. But the title would be decided at 1.99m. Mahuchikh and Nicola missed their first two attempts, then Nicola cleared her third to take the lead. Mahuchikh had to clear her third to stay alive in the event, but missed, handing the title to Nicola. She then missed three attempts at 2.02m.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Nicole Olyslagers (courtesy of World Athletics)