Nicola Olyslagers
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Nicola Olyslagers (athletics) has gone from strength to strength in women’s high jump since winning a surprise bronze at her Commonwealth Games debut on the Gold Coast in 2018, claiming consecutive Olympic silver medals in Tokyo (2.02m Australian record) and Paris – Australia’s first Olympic medals in the event since Michele Brown also won silver in Tokyo in 1964 – world championships bronze in Budapest in 2023 (raising her own national record to 2.03m) and consecutive indoor world championships gold in Glasgow (2024) and Nanjing (2025). She also claimed her sixth national title in 2025.
She withdrew from the final at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games after sustaining a calf injury in the qualification round.
Coached by Matt Horsnell since she was 10, the pair first met at Little Athletics on the NSW Central Coast.
Nicola, who is also known for the journal in which she writes after each jump, married Rhys Olyslagers in April 2022. She has a Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) from Sydney University and is also a passionate Christian with the Biblical passage “fearless hearts are birthed in perfect love” written on her left wrist.
Sport / Discipline
Athletics
Birth Place
North Gosford
Birth state
NSW
Date of Birth
28/12/1996
Age
29
Gold Coast, 2018
Birmingham, 2022
Results History
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Additional Information
Languages Spoken:
No
Are you a citizen of a country other than Australia? If yes, please provide details?
No
Education Details:
B Science (Biochemistry) (Sydney University, Australia)
Club details:
Sydney University Athletics Club
Why did you begin your sport?
I was 9 years old, Tall and loved running. High jump was a sport that challenged me physically and mentally, and I enjoyed all the training and the feeling of jumping.
Do you have any pre-competition routines or rituals?
Chat to my sports chaplains before my competition, listen to some music, Pre comp Prayer and go out and enjoy it
What is your most memorable sporting achievement?
Qualifying for the World Championships while completing my studies.
Who is your hero / idol, and why? Have you ever met them?
No idols in sport, but I love Blanka Vlasic as a great role model for our sport, and also because I'm half Croatian.
Who has been the most influential person or people in your career and why?
The Support I received from my school, Greenpoint Christian College. The teachers were passionate about my gift and made for the best environment for me to succeed.
Do you have any hobbies away from your sport?
I play piano, lead youth groups at my church
What is your sporting ambition?
I want Australia to get to the next level for high jumping and that is for a female to jump over 2 metres.
