Olyslagers crowned World Athletics Field Athlete of the Year

Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers was named World Athletics Field Athlete of the Year and legendary broadcaster Bruce McAvaney receiving the prestigious President’s Award at the 2025 World Athletics Awards in Monaco overnight.

Olyslagers becomes only the second Australian in history to win one of the World Athletics top Athlete of the Year honours, following Sally Pearson’s triumph in 2011. The accolade recognises a season of rare dominance for the world champion in high jump, who joined pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis as the world’s leading field athletes.

In 2025, Olyslagers captured both the indoor and outdoor titles, reset the Oceanian record to 2.04m, finished the year as world leader and claimed the Diamond League crown, solidifying her position as one of the most accomplished and influential high jumpers of her generation.

“When we were flying over to Monaco, I reflected in my journal of when I was 20 years of age. I was working in a café, washing dishes in the back, saving money to try and get some flights to compete internationally and I was so far away from being competitive, but in the back of that café, I would dream,” Olyslagers said.

“I’d dream about places where I would try and compete if I could, and I would dream about what I would say to people if I could ever reach that level. And in that time, it took a lot of belief to even think about that but even if it was invisible to the world, it felt like I had something special.

“And now standing eight years later on this stage and in front of each one of you, I want to say that it has sustained me back then in washing dishes and it’s sustaining me now on top of the world.”

The evening also spotlighted one of Australia’s most revered voices in sport, with Bruce McAvaney presented with the President’s Award, recognising his exceptional service to athletics through five decades of broadcasting, storytelling and philanthropy.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe paid tribute to McAvaney’s profound impact.

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“The recipient of this year’s President’s Award is one of the very few people who can say they achieved the dream they had at the age of five,” Coe said.

“Bruce has been involved in international sport at the highest level, broadcasting to the widest possible audience over five decades. His drive for knowledge, the ability to recognise performance in a historical context and his genuine respect for individuals has seen him become one of Australia’s greatest sports commentators.”

McAvaney becomes the second Australian to receive the award after Peter Norman was honoured posthumously in 2020. After accepting the award in Monaco, McAvaney reflected on the significance of the honour.

“Athletics has been the central thread of my career at Seven and is a sport I hold incredibly close to my heart. To be honoured in this way, and by someone I have such enormous admiration for in Sebastian Coe, is truly one of the highlights of my career.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work across many major events, but nothing compares to athletics at the highest level. The opportunity to call those defining, once-in-a-lifetime moments is what fuels my passion and makes my job as a broadcaster so special.”

Australian Athletics CEO Simon Hollingsworth said Olyslagers’ and McAvaney’s global recognition is a defining moment for the sport.

“Nicola’s season sits among the greatest in Australian athletics history. To win indoor and outdoor world titles, break records and consistently elevate the standard of high jump globally is extraordinary,” Hollingsworth said.

“This honour reflects not only her performance but the inspiration she brings to the Australian athletics community and the wider sporting world.

“We’d also like to congratulate Bruce on his award. I think all of Australia can agree how much he has done for sport but many don’t know how much time he contributes to Australian athletics, purely out of his passion.

“We’re forever grateful for his support and backing and we’re so pleased to see his dedication and expertise recognised at a global level.”

Sascha Ryner – Athletics Australia