Eleanor Patterson on Brisbane 2032 ambitions and her respect for Aussie rival Nicola Olyslagers

Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers will be going head-to-head for Olympic gold this year, but there is nothing but respect between the two high jump superstars.

Australia's Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers are chasing gold in Paris. Picture: Ben Stansall / AFP

High jumper Eleanor Patterson has spoken of her respect for Nicola Olyslagers as the Australian duo prepare to renew their rivalry at the national titles next week and then go head-to-head for a gold medal in Paris later in the year.

Patterson and Olyslagers have been at the vanguard of Australia’s track and field triumph in recent years, the former winning world championship gold and the latter a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

They have driven each other to new heights and will face off for the first time this year in Adelaide as they take the first serious steps on the road to Paris.

Asked about the relationship between the pair, Patterson said: “I think I enjoy just having Eleanor as Eleanor and Nicola as Nicola, but it is a beautiful thing that we have both of us coming through – and I have such respect for Nicola.

“She’s a beautiful person inside and out. She’s having and had so far an incredible career. So it’s wonderful to see such strength within high jumping in Australia, not only just for ourselves to push each other, but also for the sake of like, ‘hey, guys, in Australia, like, we’re pretty good at this’.

“Even as far as the rest of the world – the Ukrainians at the moment, huge talents and have been for many, many, many years – but the Australians are bringing it to the rest of the world and proving that we’re pretty handy, especially in technical events.

“Yeah, 100 percent it’s very special.”

Eleanor Patterson (left) and Nicola Olyslagers (right) are taking it the world. Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Patterson, the 2022 world champion and world No. 5, enters the national titles after a disappointing outing in Sydney a fortnight ago where she won the gold but tapped out well below two metres.

However, the matchup with Olyslagers is expected to bring out the best in two of the world’s elite high jumpers.

Paris later this year is at the forefront of both their minds, but the 27-year-old Patterson hasn’t ruled out going beyond that, with Los Angeles and then potentially Brisbane on her radar.

“Yeah, definitely, I think I still have got a few years under the belt,” Patterson said.

“I feel like I’ve got a second wind even though I’ve been around for a long while. Having only been under [coach] Alex [Stewart] for four years now, it still feels like I’m learning every day and I feel like I’m a younger athlete.

“I would love to do 2028, definitely. Then, you know, 2032 I think I’ll be 36 at that point. That’s future Eleanor’s problem

“I want to review each year as to whether I’m enjoying it, motivated, in one piece, and those kinds of things.

“So I’ve definitely got a number of years left in me but I probably need to start kind of putting some pieces together in the puzzle of the next phase of life.”

Eleanor Patterson is hopeful of making it to the 2032 Games in Brisbane. Picture: Ben Stansall /AFP

For the moment, Paris is all-consuming as Patterson attempts to improve on her fifth placing in Tokyo three years ago. Olyslagers shapes one of her biggest threats, not just this week but in Paris where they will lead the fight against the all-powerful Ukrainians led by world No. 1 Yaroslava Mahuchikh.

While the athletes on the high jumping circuit are a tight-knit crew, Patterson said she refrained from watching her competitors too closely.

“You do come across a lot of the same people over and over again,” Patterson said.

“And you can see different elements of their jump as to why they are good or why they’re doing well.

“It’s an event where you’ve got to repeat the same movement and it’s quite precise. So there’s different elements that you’re like, ‘oh, I’m envious of their second last step, their penultimate step’.

“But at the end of the day, I know my jump is my own and I can’t be Nicola, I can’t be Yaroslav.

“I’m Eleanor, and I’m here and …. I’m perfecting my jump.”

Originally published as Eleanor Patterson on Brisbane 2032 ambitions and her respect for Aussie rival Nicola Olyslagers