Aussie high jumper soars to rare World Athletics award
Ian Chadband |
Nicola Olyslagers has become only the second Australian athlete ever to be honoured at the World Athletics awards gala as she was hailed as female field athlete of the year in Monaco.
The ever-improving high jump star, who capped the best year of her soaring career by winning the world championship in Tokyo in September, told AAP the honour bestowed on Sunday night at the Monaco Yacht Club represented “gold sprinkles on my cake” after her breakthrough campaign.
The 28-year-old from Gosford is the first Australian to win in the annual awards since hurdler Sally Pearson was voted overall women’s athlete of the year in 2011.
American 400m runner Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the overall female athlete of the year award as well as being voted women’s track athlete of the year on Sunday night, while pole vault great Mondo Duplantis won the equivalent men’s award as well as the male field eventer of the year gong.
“It’s an amazing honour. Just a surprise, really, when they they nominated me, and then I got the call up to say ‘you’re in the final two’,” said Olyslagers, who was voted ahead of American world long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall for the big prize.
“Sometimes, you don’t realise how successful a year it’s been because you’re just enjoying it all so much.”
Earlier in the week, the Gosford jumper was also named athlete of the year at the NSW Champions of Sport Awards Ceremony, winning the regional prize ahead of Olympic gold medallists Jessica Fox and Saya Sakakibara, Isaac Heeney (AFL), Grace Kim (golf) and Bridget Conrad (sailing).
“You know what? I’m just getting all these gold sprinkles on this cake. Every time I think like the cake’s done, another sprinkle becomes available,” smiled Olyslagers of her awards nomination before her victory.
It’s capped a year in which Olyslagers won the World Indoor title in Nanjing, and also lifted the overall Diamond League crown in Zurich where she jumped an Oceanian record 2.04m.
Renowned Australian broadcaster, 72-year-old Bruce McAvaney, was honoured on Sunday with the President’s Award, which recognises and honours exceptional service to athletics.
Citing his tireless contribution to sports media and commentary, and the philanthropy he brings to the sport, World Athletics chief Seb Coe said: “His drive for knowledge, combined with the ability to recognise performance in a historical context, and a genuine respect and regard for individuals has led him to be acknowledged as one of Australia’s greatest sports commentators.”
Accepting the honour, McAvaney said: “To be honoured in this way, and by someone I have such enormous admiration for in Sebastian Coe, is truly one of the highlights of my career.”
AWARDS:
Women’s World Athlete of the Year: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
Men’s World Athlete of the Year: Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
Women’s track: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
Women’s field: Nicola Olyslagers (AUS)
Women’s out of stadium: Maria Perez (ESP)
Men’s track: Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN)
Men’s field: Mondo Duplantis (SWE)
Men’s out of stadium: Sabastian Sawe (KEN)
Women’s Rising Star: Zhang Jiale (CHN)
Men’s Rising Star: Edmund Serem (KEN)
AAP
