- Nicola Olyslagers captivated audiences with her charming demeanor
- The Olympian energized the crowd at the Paris Games
- However, she fell short in her quest for gold on Sunday
Nicola Olyslagers has enchanted sports fans with her delightful personality at the Olympic Games.
Olyslagers, the first Australian woman to jump over 2m in high jump, faced Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh for the gold in a nail-biting final in Paris on Sunday.
At just 25 years old, Olyslagers, who is deeply religious, prays before every jump, expressing that she jumps with ‘joy for Jesus’.
She quickly captured the hearts of the Stade de France audience and the millions watching from home with her contagious positivity, encouraging the crowd before her attempts and radiating joy each time she cleared her height.
One particularly charming moment stood out, as Olyslagers was the only athlete to jot down notes in a diary after her jumps.
She affectionately refers to her diary as her ‘little book of gold’, where she rates her performance out of ten for each effort.
‘This has gone viral, and I didn’t really get why. But it’s my training diary, and it’s like Athletics 101,’ she shared with Nine.
‘You just note what you did in training each day. But I took it a step further and asked myself what I learned, what felt good, and what needs changing.’
Nicola Olyslagers has won fans all over the world at the Olympic Games
The devout Christian high-jumper’s infectious personality was clear for all to see
‘The [Tokyo] Olympic Games spanned two hours and 45 minutes. It was a lengthy period to remain focused.
‘I had this book filled with inspiration alongside the lessons I learned. It felt like I could write a note to my future self, reminding me of the Olympic experience and the insights I gained.’
‘I could carry the journal during competitions and record exactly how I felt in the moment, allowing for reflection later.’
‘Initially, I thought no one would see it.’
‘Yet, my little doodles became headlines. It was never my intention for that.’
Olyslagers was spotted writing in a diary after each jump in Paris
Ultimately, Olyslagers could not surpass the 2.02m height, earning her a silver medal as Mahuchikh claimed the top position.
Nevertheless, Olyslagers’ spirit resonated with fans, who took to Twitter to celebrate the Australian star.
‘Nicola Olyslagers’ happiness is infectious!’ exclaimed one admirer.
‘This Aussie high jumper is truly precious,’ stated another. ‘I’m now a fan of Olyslagers.’
A third fan added: ‘How could anyone not cheer for Nicola Olyslagers?’
‘Nicola Olyslagers is absolutely adorable with her little journal.’
