World Athletics Championships: Eleanor Patterson wins silver, Nicola Olyslagers claims bronze in high jump final

Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers have made history, putting two Australians on the same podium at a world championships for the first time.

Silver medallist, Australia's Eleanor Patterson (L) and bronze medallist, Australia's Nicola Olyslagers (R) celebrate with their National flags and medals after the women's high jump final during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on August 27, 2023. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)

Australia has two of the best three high-jumpers on the planet after Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers blitzed Budapest winning silver and bronze medals.

Defending champion Patterson showed her class after an injury-interrupted season by taking silver while Olyslagers, the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist, secured her first world championships medal.

Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who finished second to Patterson last year in Eugene, finally got her moment in the sun winning the gold medal with a clearance of 2.01m.

It was a historic night as Australia has never had two athletes on the same podium at a world championships. It has happened at an Olympic Games but you have to go way back to 1968.

The double medal in the high-jump gives the Australian team a record six-medal haul.

Silver medallist Eleanor Patterson (left) and bronze medallist Nicola Olyslagers celebrate after the women's high jump final. Picture: AFP

Two years ago in Tokyo when Olyslagers had her breakthrough Patterson finished fifth and then last year when Patterson claimed the world title, her teammate came fifth.

This time they were both on the same page in an enthralling final that fluctuated dramatically.

First it was Patterson who had some concerns, missing her first two attempts at 1.97m before clearing it with her third to remain in the competition. She then went out and cleared a season’s best 1.99m with her next jump.

Eleanor Patterson competes in the women's high jump final. Picture: AFP

Olyslagers had been cruising until she missed her first attempt at 1.99m but corrected herself and sailed over with her next attempt.

With the gold medal up for grabs it was Mahuchikh who delivered, leaping 2.01m at her first attempt. Unfortunately, despite a couple of close misses, both Australians were unable to match it.

Nicola Olyslagers reacts after a jump in the women's high jump final. Picture: Getty Images

It has been a tough campaign for Patterson, who was lost to the sport just a few years ago, before becoming the high-jump queen last year.

She suffered a serious foot injury in February which required surgery and there were times where she feared she mightn’t get to Budapest.

It wasn’t until May that she started jogging, her first competition not until last month but she was determined to defend her title and went agonisingly close to pulling it off.

After her heroics in Tokyo, Olyslagers struggled with injuries last season and wasn’t herself but she changed that around dramatically this year, coming into Budapest ranked No.1 in the world.

The pair are in the prime of their careers — Patterson is 27 and Olyslagers 26 — with next year’s Paris Olympics coming at the perfect time.

Originally published as World Athletics Championships: Eleanor Patterson wins silver, Nicola Olyslagers claims bronze in high jump final