Australian high-jump star Nicola Olyslagers is aiming for a third consecutive world indoor title at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland, from March 20-22. Olyslagers, who won the two previous global indoor titles in 2024 and 2025, will headline a strong Australian team that includes multiple Olympic medallists.
The team also features 2024 Olympics silver medallist Jessica Hull in the 1500m, and Kurtis Marschall, who recently became only the fourth Australian man to clear six metres in the pole vault. Marschall joined Steve Hooker, Dmitri Markov and Paul Burgess in the elite club after achieving the feat at an indoor meet in France last month.
Olyslagers ended 2025 as the world No.1 and was named female field athlete of the year by World Athletics. She said, 'Last year was good as far as the awards and trophy component go, but there is still much more to go for. I've been trying to think like that, so I can be on fire for this season.'
Among her stiffest challengers will be countrywoman Eleanor Patterson, the 2022 world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist. Marschall, who attempted the six-metre barrier around 45 times before succeeding, said, 'If I can put myself in the position to jump as high as I can, I am definitely in medal contention.'
