Nicola Olyslagers is one of the most outstanding high jumpers in the world. She has achieved remarkable successes: silver medals at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as a bronze at the Budapest 2023 Outdoor World Championships. Additionally, Olyslagers is a two-time world champion indoors, making her the first Australian athlete to win more than one indoor world title. Known for her serenity and faith, Nicola has said she wants to be remembered: “For the way I love people, more than for the height I jump.” This Wednesday, she broke the high jump record and lifted the Diamond League trophy in Zurich, achievements that crown a career of perseverance and passion for athletics.

These latest achievements are the culmination of a career of constant improvement. On August 27, 2025, at the Diamond League final in Zurich, Olyslagers jumped 2.04 m – one centimeter above her previous mark – to triumph in an exciting high jump competition. It was the highest mark of the year worldwide and established new national and Oceania records in the discipline. The jump earned her the 2025 Diamond League title in high jump, as well as a place at the next World Championships in Tokyo 2025. After the event, Nicola explained: “I have been trying to reach this height for several years, and today I took home the Diamond Trophy… what a day!” She added that during the competition she felt “a deep inner peace,” sensing that her career was about to reach a new level.

Career and outstanding achievements

The path of Olyslagers is full of milestones. In 2021, she became the first Australian woman to clear the 2.00 m barrier in high jump, first with 2.00 m and later improving to 2.01 m in international competitions. That same year, she completed her historic season by winning the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics with a 2.02 m jump, which was a new national record for Australia. Her 2.02 m mark in Tokyo not only made her an Olympic silver medalist but also the first Australian to win a medal in this event since Melbourne 1956.

In 2022, her career suffered a setback due to an injury at the Commonwealth Championships, but her comeback was almost miraculous. A month later she was competing again, reaching the podium at the Brussels Diamond League despite the injury. The following year she maintained an extraordinary level: she won nine out of ten competitions and returned to the world podium with a bronze in Budapest 2023. In 2024, Olyslagers reaffirmed her status as a global star: she opened the season with a 2.03 m jump in Canberra (an Australian record) and then became indoor world champion in Glasgow with 1.99 m. Shortly after, she won Olympic silver in Paris 2024 (jumping 2.00 m in the final). All these achievements have placed her among the elite of athletics, exemplifying perseverance and excellence against top competitors.

Oceanic record and triumph in Zurich

She’s done it! Nicola Olyslagers has claimed the Diamond League high jump crown after setting a new Oceania record of 2.04m in Zurich ??

Next up ➡️ World Athletics Championships in Tokyo ??#TeamAUS | @australianaths pic.twitter.com/An4X0n5Hhm

— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) August 27, 2025

The most recent milestone took place in Zurich. At Sechseläutenplatz, Olyslagers dominated the competition, clearing every height on her first attempt to win with a 2.04 m jump. With that mark, she claimed her fourth 2025 Diamond League title and set a new Oceania high jump record. Additionally, it was the highest jump recorded in the 2025 season worldwide. In the same duel, Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh – world queen and world record holder – finished second with 2.02 m but could not surpass 2.04 m and failed at 2.06 m, so Olyslagers was crowned champion when the competition became impossible for her.

The excitement of the contest was reflected in Nicola’s words. After her victory, she said she had been “trying to reach this height for years, and today I finally did it!” She also highlighted the confidence with which she faced the event: “I felt a deep inner peace: I knew something was going to change,” she said, visibly moved. These statements exemplify the maturity and calm with which she competes against world-class rivals. Thanks to this triumph, Olyslagers not only conquered Zurich but also gained valuable experience and extra motivation for upcoming international challenges.

Mindset and upcoming challenges

Despite her success, Nicola Olyslagers has always kept her feet on the ground. She describes herself as an athlete of “quiet confidence” who trusts in consistency. According to her, what she most desires is to shine “on the track and in life,” and to be known for her human values as much as for her jumps. Journalists note that each victory is accompanied by a phrase of gratitude reflecting her faith, seeking “glory to God” after each jump. Beyond religion, Olyslagers values inner peace and personal development: she advises trusting the process and remembering that self-worth goes beyond the athletic result.

With her continental record and multiple titles in hand, Olyslagers already has her sights set on the future. She aims to fight for the coveted outdoor world medal she has yet to win, and her team is already planning preparation for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. Sports analysts point out that, with her history of effort, resilience, and good character, Nicola inspires new generations of Australian athletics. She herself assures that success is the result of daily passion: the Australian advises young athletes to “have calm confidence and trust the process, beyond the pressure.” That life philosophy, combined with her talent, suggests that Olyslagers will continue leaving a mark on the sport in the coming years.