Athletics: Australian pole-vault star Nina Kennedy adds another title to her Commonwealth Games gold

It’s been a banner year for Australian athletes and another high mark has been achieved in Vienna.

There’s no stopping Nina Kennedy. Picture: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP

An Olympic medal is next on the agenda for Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nina Kennedy, who joined an elite club in Zurich.

The West Australian pole-vaulter became just the fifth Australian to win a prestigious Diamond League event to round out a brilliant 2022 that also included a bronze medal at the world championships and gold in Birmingham

Kennedy, 25, earnt $44,000 and a place at the world championships in Budapest next year with her winning jump of 4.81m but has bigger goals over the next two years.

“The plan is to just keep building. The girls that are winning medals and are up there are getting into their 30s,” she said.

Nina Kennedy has reached great heights this year. Picture: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

“I definitely feel like I am one of the young ones coming through and I just want to continue this momentum.

“I would love to be on the podium in the next two years in Budapest and Paris (Olympic Games) – they are my goals for the next two years.

“It’s a huge relief! I’m really happy that the world and my competitors especially can see that I am now a factor.

“People can definitely see that I am having fun in my performances. Once I did well at worlds and got that bronze medal, I had achieved everything I wanted to this season and I could go have fun, make money and enjoy it in a sense which has been working for me.”

Kennedy said her own expectations were now growing in line with her improved performances.

"I haven't had a competition where I haven't been on the podium."

Diamond League pole vault champion @ninakennedy_ 🇦🇺 thinks her consistency paid off.#ZurichDLpic.twitter.com/FtvVkmZqdh

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) September 7, 2022

“I have a lot of confidence right now. I can clear 4.70m so easily in training but in a competition environment, everything changes – you have nerves, expectation, the crowd. I have been on the podium all season and such a good run, I just know how to clear those bars now,” Kennedy said.

“I did not know what to expect, I haven’t done a street meet this season, but I was just trying to have an open mind, and I really enjoyed it.”

But she was less enthusiastic about what she might do with her prizemoney.

“I need some new home stuff, I’ll probably just go buy some carpet – I’m such a loser,” Kennedy said.

High jumper Brandon Starc (2018), long jumpers Fabrice Lapierre (2016) and Mitchell Watt (2011) and sprint hurdler Sally Pearson (2017) are the only Australians to win Diamond League events.

Originally published as Athletics: Australian pole-vault star Nina Kennedy adds another title to her Commonwealth Games gold