Australian Athletics royalty bound for World Athletics Indoor Championships

Back-to-back champion Nicola Olyslagers will lead a team of six global medallists including Jessica Hull and Kurtis Marschall at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships next week, with 11 of the hottest names in Australian athletics bound for Kujawy Pomorze, Poland.

The March 20-22 championships will see the high-flying Olyslagers (NSW) attempt a rare three-peat of World Indoor titles, having won both the 2024 and 2025 crowns in Glasgow and Nanjing respectively, along with the outdoor world title in Tokyo last year.

Raising the Australian record to 2.04m on her way to the Diamond League title in Zurich, the world number one sent an ominous warning to her rivals ahead of 2026.

“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,” Olyslagers said.

“You look back on the success of last year, then 2026 ticked over and it was like, put those trophies in the cupboard, get back to training and look ahead.”

Olyslagers won’t be the only Australian on the mind of her rivals with Eleanor Patterson (NSW) also set to take centre stage; the Olympic bronze medallist and 2022 world champion ensuring the nation has two of the top three high jumpers in the world gunning for the podium in Poland.

Fresh off etching his name into the elusive six-metre club, pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall (WA) will have to navigate what is shaping up as the hottest event in global athletics this year if he is to add a third global medal to his resume.

The three-time Olympian remains confident in his ability to do so, thriving in every competition with a rejuvenated outlook in 2026.

“A lifelong goal for mine was just to clear that elusive six metre barrier and finally after attempting it around 45 times, I managed to do it,” Marschall said.

“There’s already been six guys over six metres this year, which is the most in history. It might even be the case that you jump six metres and miss out on a medal this year.

“If I can put myself in the position to jump as high as I can, I am definitely in medal contention. All eyes are on us right now to see who is going to come out on top.”

Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull (NSW) will lead a world-class middle-distance contingent alongside Peter Bol (VIC) when contesting both the 1500m and 3000m, paving the way for a rising crop including debutants Bob Abdelrahim (VIC) and Hayley Kitching (NSW).

Long jumper Liam Adcock (QLD) will be buoyed by last year’s bronze medal in Nanjing where he fell just two centimetres shy of the world title, qualifying on the eve of the championships with a leap of 8.23m (+0.5) in the opening round of his first competition since the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

The team will be supported by Scott Goodman (Team Leader), Justin Rinaldi (Team Coach) and Helen van Kempen (Team Physio), while Australian Athletics accepted the maximum number of personal coaches within the World Athletics limitations.

The 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships will be held in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland from March 20-22, with Australian viewers able to tune in live and free via 9Go! and 9NOW.

Australian team for the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships

Women’s 800m – Hayley Kitching (NSW, Ryan Foster)

Women’s 1500m – Jessica Hull (NSW, Simon Hull)

Women’s 3000m – Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams), Hull

Women’s 60m Hurdles – Michelle Jenneke (NSW, Bronwyn Thompson)

Women’s High Jump – Nicola Olyslagers (NSW, Matt Horsnell), Eleanor Patterson (NSW, Fayaaz Caan)

Men’s 800m – Bob Abdelrahim (VIC, Justin Rinaldi), Peter Bol (WA, Justin Rinaldi)

Men’s 1500m – Adam Spencer (VIC, Tomasz Lewandowski)

Men’s Long Jump – Liam Adcock (QLD, self-coached)

Men’s Pole Vault – Kurtis Marschall (WA, Declan Carruthers)