Olyslagers plans to conquer world after home stay

World Indoor High Jump champion Nicola Olyslagers was quietly putting her own spin on the Peter Allen song ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ while her rivals crisscrossed the northern hemisphere in their buildup to next month’s Tokyo World Championships. 

Olyslagers, a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete with two Olympic silver medals and the Australian women’s record of 2.03m, made the calculated decision to remain at home on the state’s Central Coast to give herself the best possible opportunity to peak in Japan.  

“It’s been a long year and peaking at the very end of the season is something a lot of people struggle to do,” said Olyslagers as she prepared to jet off to Europe for her pre-worlds campaign. 

 “They’re just trying to maintain their form, but my big goal is I wanted to build; I wanted to not just maintain my form, but I wanted to go for those higher heights.” 

“And it’s always my goal to do a Personal Best at the world championships . . .  and I have good memories of doing a PB the last time I competed in Tokyo Stadium [2.02m at the 2020 Olympics].”  

Olyslagers competed in Europe – and brilliantly so – in June when she won: 

• Gold at the Paris Diamond League after clearing two metres 

• Gold at the Stockholm Diamond League after soaring 2.01m 

• Gold at the FBK Games in the Netherlands with 1.97m.  

The 28-year-old also added to her haul of precious metal when she seized silver at May’s Shanghai Diamond League with a jump of 1.98m, and bolted down bronze at the Xiamen chapter in April after jumping 1.94m.

“I made the decision to do my competition block in June,” she said. “Coming back home to do some really solid training meant I knew I’d be going back overseas [for the world championships assault] with more to give.” 

“Mentally, by the time I get back to Tokyo, I [figure I’ll] have that kind of freshness coming in rather than being away for so long and finishing off the season I think . . . personally, for me . . . unable to give my absolute best all because I’d be a bit tired.” 

Olyslagers said the impact constant travel and living out of a suitcase can have on an athlete is why she marvels at how Australia’s javelin star Mackenzie Little, a fellow NSWIS scholarship holder, engages in international hit ‘n run missions to compete due to her job as a doctor at a Sydney hospital. 

“I’ve been really inspired by Mackenzie,” she said. “She’s able to fly in and fly out from anywhere and compete, which is amazing. But, for me, I’m trying to learn the benefits of being in one place for a few weeks and training and what that will equate to.” 

Since her breakout year in 2019 Olyslagers has established herself as one of the world’s top high jumpers

“I’m hoping that in Europe it will equate to good performances.

I’m almost certain that by the time Japan comes around after doing such a hard block, then going into a competition block [I’ll] peak for [the] major championship. From what I’ve done in previous years that lead up has left me feeling refreshed and ready to give my all.”    

Olyslagers said her consistency in clearing two metres this year – she celebrated winning the Australian title after clearing 2.01m in Perth last April – has provided an added advantage of allowing her to learn what exactly she’s needed to work on after attempting to clear ‘next level heights’ of 2.03 and 2.05m at some competitions. 

“Having so many of those opportunities [to attempt big jumps] in June and even earlier this year pinpointed what we needed to work on, while it also highlighted what my strengths were,” she said. “That means I’ve got ammo going into Tokyo as well as the Diamond League’s Final.

“I’m not coming in empty because it’s like: ‘yes I know what I need to work on!’” 

The Olympian will finetune her world championships assault at three Diamond League meets at Silesia, Poland (15 August), Lausanne (20 August) and the Final in Zurich (27 August). The qualification round for the world championships commence at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium on 18 September with the final taking place three days later.  

“I’m just wanting to get the extra experience of getting those higher heights before going to Tokyo,” she revealed. “So, Poland prepares me for Switzerland. It’s a great program and I’m excited to show up. 

“Sometimes you have to say ‘no’ to something to say ‘yes’ to something. So having to say ‘no’ to a lot of competitions [to train at home] has made me more ready to give my all for the ones I ‘ve said ‘yes’ to.” 

“I’m hoping it will be not just a case of me showing up, but me giving something more to the competitions.”   

Daniel Lane, NSWIS