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Battling rain and delays and a wobbly bar the Oceania record holder added a sixth global medal to her collection and joined the elite of Australia’s greatest ever athletes.

In the pouring rain, which disrupted competition, Olyslagers (NSW, Matt Horsnell) claimed the world outdoor crown in the same city where she won her first Olympic medal four years ago and made it clear how much it meant to her.

“This was just pure joy, even in the rain. I’ve seen so many bars fall off just by that small amount but when it stays on, what else could you say but ‘Thank you, God.’ High jump is a bit of luck but tonight was so special,” Olyslagers said having won with a jump at 2m which her rivals couldn’t match.

“I think this season I have had many hard competitions but the whole year was really great. I realised I had to stop holding onto my goals really tightly and be spontaneous, take risks and really move by faith and not sight.”

Olyslagers has dominated this year claiming World Indoor gold, the Diamond League trophy, a new Oceania record of 2.04m and now, her first global outdoor title. Her six global medals now include two Olympic podiums, two World Championship medals and two World Indoor titles.

It’s the second Australian world title in the Women’s High Jump after Eleanor Patterson’s win in 2022. Patterson finished fifth and had to be happy for her Australian teammate despite her own disappointment.

“It’s bittersweet in so many ways, but that’s the nature of high jumping. If I had one clearance a little bit earlier, it would have been incredible but it’s the part of the sport,” Patterson said.

“I’m ready to jump high and I just didn’t bring it out today. Hats off to Nicola though, it’s really wonderful seeing her win gold.”

Despite hopes of a podium finish after some monster throws this year, Olympic bronze medallist Matthew Denny (QLD, Dale Stevenson) could only manage fourth in the discus in extremely wet and challenging conditions with not slipping over a win for many.

“I’m pretty fortunate that I walked away without a concussion or an injury,” Denny said.

“It’s obviously hard the way it went down in these conditions. I’ve never felt more ready for a comp but it was a bit of a war of attrition. It was one of those things you can’t control.

“You had to give yourself to it and hope that you catch one and you know some boys did and some boys didn’t. I am fortunate to be one of the boys who was at least in the fight and could kind of manage.

“It really sucks and I feel for everyone as a collective because if that was dry that was going to be the best competition of all time. Respect to those guys that medalled, for Daniel to catch that and make do with what we had, hats off to them.”

World Indoor medallist Ky Robinson stormed to fourth place in the men’s 5000m final showing no fear against the event’s heavyweights with only Craig Mottram’s bronze in 2005 a better finish by an Australian at the World Championships.

“He’s probably Australia’s greatest ever middle-distance runner and to be able to go out there and do something similar to what he’s done it’s definitely something to be proud of and is someone I look up to. And hopefully one day in the future there’s kids who can look up to me.”

Jessica Hull, who won bronze in the 1500m, closed off her Tokyo Championships, delivering the country’s best ever result in the Women’s 800m at the World Athletics Championships finishing eighth, in a time just shy of her Australian record set two nights ago in the semi-final.

“I’d still like to get on the track tomorrow if I could. It’s really refreshing to finish the Championships feeling this way, where I wish I could still go again. It was a good, very hard race among the top 800m women but it was basically similar times to the other night, so I’m officially a 1:57-low woman.”