World silver for Olyslagers as old rival soars back
Ian Chadband |
Nicola Olyslagers has missed out in her bid to add another global gold to her collection, having to settle for silver at the world indoor championships in Poland.
Hoping to launch Australia’s challenge in Torun with a fourth successive world title, indoors and out, on Friday morning, defending champ Olyslagers met her match in her rejuvenated rival Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who soared to victory.
Ukraine’s world record holder and Olympic champion Mahuchikh, who had been beaten by the champion Olyslagers at both the world indoor and outdoor championships last year, cleared 2.01 metres to strike gold and reassert her supremacy.
It proved too much for her three closest rivals — Olyslagers, Ukraine compatriot Yulia Levchenko and rising Serbian Angelina Topic — who all went over 1.99m and were all awarded silver medals as they couldn’t be separated on countback.
All the top four had cleared 1.99m at the first attempt in a high-quality start to the three-day championships, with Olyslagers just a little surprised that she had been among them.
“Sometimes, you just wake up and do not feel ready to compete. Today was one of those days, but I just prayed and was able to make myself feel the right way,” said the 29-year-old.
“Clearing 1.99m was probably a bigger surprise to me than to anyone else and it feels great to share this medal with two other girls.
“The competition was amazing. I cannot remember the last time we had something like that, with four girls clearing 1.99m on their first attempt.
“But being in a situation like this gives me a sense of excitement, it does not scare me. It reminds me to have motivation to jump well.”
Olyslagers’ Australian teammate Eleanor Patterson, twice a silver medallist at the world indoors, was off her game, suffering a couple of early failures as she struggled to get over 1.93m and ended up seventh of the 11 finalists.
Among the strong 11-athlete Australian team, Peter Bol made effortless progress into the 800m semi-finals, even though he’s an absolute beginner to indoor racing.
“I raced indoors just twice in my life before today, and it is tricky coming from the Australian summer to compete here,” said Bol, who’s looked in potential medal-winning form and eased through with a heat win in 1 minute 45.87 seconds.
Hayley Kitching also made it into the semis of the women’s 800m, finishing second in her heat in 2:00.99.
AAP