Australian High Jump Queen Honoured on Global Stage
In a landmark achievement for Australian sport, Nicola Olyslagers has been named the Female Field Athlete of the Year at the prestigious World Athletics awards gala in Monaco. This historic win makes the high-flying star from Gosford only the second Australian athlete ever to be honoured at the ceremony, a feat not accomplished since hurdler Sally Pearson in 2011.
A Golden Year Culminates in Monaco Celebration
The 28-year-old's award comes as the crowning jewel on an extraordinary year. Olyslagers described the honour, bestowed at the glamorous Monaco Yacht Club, as "gold sprinkles on my cake" after a truly breakthrough campaign. Her phenomenal season was highlighted by winning the world championship title in Tokyo in September, cementing her status as a global force in the high jump.
Olyslagers expressed her surprise and delight at the recognition, noting she was nominated ahead of American world long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall. "It's an amazing honour. Just a surprise, really, when they nominated me, and then I got the call up to say 'you're in the final two'," she said. "Sometimes, you don't realise how successful a year it's been because you're just enjoying it all so much."
A Year of Unprecedented Success and National Pride
The Gosford athlete's golden run extended beyond the world stage. Earlier in the week, she was also named Athlete of the Year at the NSW Champions of Sport Awards Ceremony, triumphing over a field of esteemed Australian Olympians and champions.
Her award-winning year included a formidable list of achievements:
- Winning the World Indoor title in Nanjing.
- Securing the overall Diamond League crown in Zurich.
- Setting an Oceanian record with a jump of 2.04m.
The ceremony also shone a light on another Australian legend, with revered broadcaster Bruce McAvaney receiving the President's Award for his exceptional service to athletics. World Athletics chief Seb Coe praised McAvaney's "tireless contribution to sports media and commentary" and his philanthropy.
This dual recognition for Olyslagers and McAvaney marks a significant moment for Australian athletics, showcasing the nation's ongoing impact on the world sporting stage.
