Australian and Sydney University Alumni High Jump star Nicola Olyslagers has earned the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This amazing feat was shared with fellow Australian high jumper Eleanor Patterson who won bronze.
Winning silver in Tokyo three years ago, Olyslagers progressed along with Ukrainian star and world record holder Yaroslav Mahuchikh who were the only two to surpass 1.98m. The crowd of 70,000 got right into the spectacle as these two fierce athletes went jump for jump.
Nicola cleared 2.00m on her third attempt which kept her in the contest. Both competitors were unable to pass 2.02m, handing Mahuchikh gold on countback.
Nicola spoke after saying: “I feel like I’m a different athlete than I was three years ago when it comes to my consistency. I had so much joy tonight. I have a following at home that is watching and maybe expecting a lot of things from me. But even under the pressure, I saw that, and rather than shrink back from performing I feel like with that two-metre jump I rose to the occasion. So, it was really beautiful”.
Nicola now also becomes the only ever Australian field athlete to win a medal at consecutive Olympics.
On behalf of everyone at Sydney Uni Sport,, we would like to congratulate Nicola on her achievements in Paris and wish her all the best with her upcoming events.
