Australian high jump sensation Nicola Olyslagers has capped off a golden year with another prestigious honour, named the recipient of the Bruce McAvaney performance of the year award by the commentary legend himself.
A Monaco Surprise
The revelation came unexpectedly last month in Monaco, where Olyslagers was attending the World Athletics awards as the women's field athlete of the year. During the function, broadcasting icon Bruce McAvaney informed her that she was his personal choice for the Athletics Australia award that bears his name.
McAvaney, who has the sole discretion in selecting the winner, chose Olyslagers for her phenomenal clearance of 2.04 metres at the Diamond League final in Zurich this past August. That jump not only secured her the Diamond League trophy but also shattered the Oceania record and stood as the world-best mark for 2024.
A Defining Season of Dominance
The Zurich victory was a pivotal moment in Olyslagers's career. In a high-quality competition where four women soared over the two-metre barrier, she finally claimed a major win over her great rival, Ukrainian world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh.
"The Diamond League final was just exceptional," McAvaney said. "It was here that she really got the better of Mahuchikh at the end of the season and turned the tables. Nicola went from probably the second-best high jumper in the world to being the best."
He particularly highlighted her flawless technique on the day, noting six jumps without a miss up to 2.06m. Olyslagers's season only gained momentum from Zurich. A month later, she won her first world outdoor title, adding to the world indoor championship she successfully defended earlier in the year.
Inspiration and Transformation
Reflecting on her award and the season, Olyslagers acknowledged the role her rival played in her success. "Yaroslava was a big inspiration for me last year to change my technique, to get faster, because I saw the world record was possible," she said.
"Without her, I wouldn't have made those changes - 2.03m may have been my ceiling but now it's opened." She described the Zurich competition as one of the best days of her career, emphasising the thrill of seeing four elite women all clear two metres.
Her Monaco accolade as World Athletics' best field athlete made her only the second Australian to win it, after hurdler Sally Pearson in 2011. McAvaney was also honoured at the same ceremony with the President's Award for his service to athletics.
The rest of the Athletics Australia awards will be announced on Monday, but for Olyslagers, 2024 has already been a year of extraordinary achievement and recognition.
