Patterson and Olyslagers Reverse Podium in Switzerland

The women’s high jump Olympic medallists have carried the momentum of Australian athletics from Paris to Lausanne, with the high flying Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers landing on the podium at the Swiss leg of the Diamond League.

Reversing their placings from the Olympic Games last fortnight, the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athletes Patterson (Alex Stewart) and Olyslagers (Matt Horsnell) reinforced Australia’s dominance in the Women’s High Jump, with Patterson taking silver to Ukraine’s Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh, as Olyslagers rounded out the podium.

Patterson sailed over season’s best of 1.96m on her first attempt – using all three attempts to clear 1.92m, while Olyslagers needed only two jumps to land third place.  

“I’m very excited to come away with a season’s best. Honestly, I just had a ball out there. My parents were there with me and I enjoyed having them in the crowd so much—I just had so much fun. I’m happy and I’m in good form so I feel like I can go higher again,” Patterson said.

“Post any major championships is difficult, but especially an Olympics. I certainly felt quite exhausted after the excitement and build-up of the Olympics. The post Olympics slump is real, I’ve been sleeping so much and giving my mind and body time to play catch-up. It’s only been in the last few days that I’ve been feeling a little bit more energised again. Staying in a familiar and home-like space in Italy for the last 10 days has helped me fill up the cup and just enjoy the end of the season.”

Opening up Diamond League proceedings for the Australians, 2023 World Championships medallist Kurtis Marschall (Paul Burgess and James Fitzpatrick) continued his ascent in the Men’s Pole Vault after sustaining a debilitating ankle injury earlier this year – finishing equal third with Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen and John Ernest Obiena (PHI) with a 5.82m clearance.

The Western Australian who placed sixth in Paris, cleared four consecutive jumps at 5.52m, 5.62m, 5.72m and 5.82m, but was unsuccessful in clearing what would have been a season’s best height of 5.92m.

Having acquainting herself with longer distances earlier this year, Paris 2024 semi finalist Georgia Griffith (Nic Bideau) returned to the 3000m to record her second fastest time ever over the distance and the sixth fastest time ever by an Australian, when finishing in fifth place in 8:31.91.

The Australian record holder could only be beaten by an East African trio of Diribe Welteji (ETH), Janeth Chepngetich (KEN) and Tsigie Gebreselma (ETH), as well as USA’s Elise Canny.

In their first race since the Olympic Games, Stewart McSweyn (Nic Bideau) and Oliver Hoare (Dathan Ritzenhein) put in a gutsy effort in the Men’s 1500m, but found themselves stuck in the final laps of the race, finishing 11th (3:34.80) and 12th (3:36.03) respectively.

The race was won in a meet record time of 3:27.83 by Ingebrigsten, with USA duo, Olympic champion Cole Hocker (3:29.85) and Hobbs Kessler (3:30.47) crossing the line in second and third.

The Diamond League series continues on Monday morning AEST in Silesia, Poland, with Marschall and McSweyn making their return, while Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull, Linden Hall and Sarah Billings will make up the Australian contingent in the Women’s 1500m.

Article and image courtesy of Athletics Australia