Olyslagers Eyes Record Trajectory Ahead of Maurie Plant Meet

For Nicola Olyslagers, each year is marked with the purchase of a new notebook. Both the author and student of her own library, the high jumper’s vision reflects a deliberate balance of self-awareness and ambition ahead of Paris 2024 – where the goal is to raise the bar higher than ever before.

It’s no secret that Olyslagers operates on a different wavelength to most. When her name is floated in athletics circles, her now iconic notebook is regularly mentioned before any talk of her Olympic silver medal or Australian record of 2.03m. Process and Prowess.

“The funny thing is that everything in the notebook would look like a different language to other people, it’s just the way that I do it. It’s not actually about what’s in the notebook that’s important to me, it’s the process of writing it down. It sticks in my brain and I can focus better,” Olyslagers says.

Nicola Olyslagers

Training under the guidance of longtime coach Matthew Horsnell, the NSW Institute of Sport’s (NSWIS) preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has been meticulous since claiming silver in Tokyo. Adding World Championships bronze to her collection in Budapest last year before soaring to a new Australian record in the Diamond League Final, the 27-year-old describes 2023 as a steppingstone to Paris.

“The philosophy that Matt and I have after training together for 16 years now is that every year, we are doing more training and building, so we are just getting better. Every year is an opportunity to step up and acknowledge that what I have learned has got me this far, but there is always more to do – another note to write and another session to complete,” Olyslagers says.

Picking up where she left off with a 2.03m clearance to open her 2024 campaign at the ACT State Championships, the storylines started to write themselves as Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh returned serve with 2.04m just two weeks later.

A perfect rivalry to follow in the lead up to Paris, culminating in a showdown for gold at the pinnacle of sport? Maybe for some, but not Olyslagers.

“If I’m always looking for the medal, the ranking, or the record, it’s very easy to get distracted and disheartened just because someone else has done better. I’m trying to look at heights and do something that I have never done before, but I don’t see my competitors as barriers to doing that,” Olyslagers says.

“If I have 10 women jumping two metres, it is going to push me to jump a world record. We actually need each other and if you can avoid having the rivalries of cutting down the people around you but building them up instead, the sport is going to flourish.”

The idea of a world record may sound like a distant dream, but Olyslagers has both the belief and numbers to back it up. The Australian has jumped an outright or equal personal best in 13 of her past 14 seasons since the age of 14, with the bar only set to rise even higher in 2024. Process and Prowess.

“The world record has stood there for 37 years and that’s too long,” Olyslagers says.

“I think it is possible. I like the concept of barriers, it’s almost like unlocking them. The next big barrier is 2.10m because 2.09m is the world record, which is such a lofty goal, but if I don’t attempt to jump something really high – I’m probably not going to train in the way to reach the level that I will be satisfied with.”

Turning her attention to Thursday’s Maurie Plant Meet – Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium on February 15, Olyslagers is looking to open her Chemist Warehouse Summer Series campaign in style, with the high-flyer set to harness the support of thousands.

“The more people the better. The crowd help to create an atmosphere to encourage me, but I feel like I have something for them as well. I call it faith in action because you have to be really courageous when you are jumping, but if they look closely enough, they can see that I’m actually loving it,” Olyslagers says.

“Sometimes I grew up thinking that if I was really enjoying myself in a serious moment, then I wasn’t trying hard enough. But I have turned that on its head to believe that you can love what you do and still be in excellence.”

Adding gymnastics to her pre-season training schedule at the suggestion of strength and conditioning coach Nicolai Morris, Olyslagers continues to identify areas for improvement that will allow her to edge closer to the best version of herself.

“Immediately something sparked because it was fun, it was new and it was different, but also really challenging. I actually found that I was getting some good positions high jumping for the aerial component and training body awareness,” Olyslagers says.

So genuine is Olyslagers’ approach to both sport and life that she has become a pioneer in allowing other athletes to separate the two realms, with Australian 20km Race Walking champion Jemima Montag citing Olyslagers as an inspiration before walking to a new Australian record on Sunday morning.

“Jemima is excellent in her field but also in building the walks community. If everyone in their event could see the opportunity that they have to form a culture, I think the sport and the world can be a better place,” Olyslagers says.

Process and Prowess.

Article courtesy of Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia