Serial medallist Nicola Olyslagers has surprised herself by adding a seventh major championship gong to her collection, but she had to settle for silver as her biggest rival soared back 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 pal Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who revisited her Olympic-winning best.
Ukraine’s world record holder Mahuchikh, who gave best to 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 Yuliia Levchenko and rising Serbian Angelina Topic - who all went over 1.99m and were all awarded silver as they couldn't be separated on countback.
All of the top four had cleared 1.99m at their first attempt in a high-quality start to the three-day championships, but 29-year-old Olyslagers hadn't been feeling anywhere near her best.
"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.
"I wasn’t feeling in my absolute championship-best shape, so I just thought to myself, 'what have I got to give today?' I just realised it was just the simple joy of jumping.
"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, who are really dear friends of mine.
“I’m really stoked to equal my indoor PB and this medal means a lot, because it showed me that there is so much more to give even when everything isn’t perfect.”
Olyslagers' Australian teammate Eleanor Patterson, twice a silver medallist at the world indoors, suffered a couple of early failures as she struggled to get over 1.93m and ended up seventh.
It was an emotional occasion for Mahuchikh, who had won her first European title at the same Torun venue back in 2021, before the invasion of her country by Russia.
"Torun is the city where many Ukrainians moved after the war was started but I was really surprised how many fans came here to support me. It was amazing," she said.
"This winter, I've been preparing in Ukraine. We trained without electricity in really cold halls, but the sweet feeling that I can finally be at home is much more important."
After Olyslagers' launch, the small but powerful Australian contingent got off to a fine start to the three-day championships with Olympic silver medallist Jess Hull finishing second in her 1500m heat in 4min 12.45sec and easing into Sunday's (Monday AEDT) final.
Victoria's Adam Spencer made it to the equivalent men's final, clocking 3:40.79 as runner-up in his heat, while Peter Bol made effortless progress into the 800m semis, even as an absolute beginner to indoor racing.
"I raced indoors just twice in my life before today, and it's tricky coming from the Australian summer to compete here," said Bol, who's looked in great shape outdoors and waltzed through with a 1:45.87 heat win.
Hayley Kitching also made it into the semis of the women's 800m, finishing second in her heat in 2:00.99.
After Mahuchikh's brilliant return in the morning, the evening session's international highlight was the outstanding 60m triumph of American Jordan Anthony, who clocked a 2026 world-leading 6.41sec as he demonstrated why, at 21, he's one of sprinting's brightest prospects.
