Eleanor Patterson secured Australia’s second medal at the world athletics championships in Eugene Oregon overnight, winning gold in the women’s high jump and equalling the national record of 2.02 metres.
26-year-old Patterson defeated Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh on countback while fellow Australian, Nicola Olyslagers, came in equal fifth with a clearance of 1.96m.
Patterson is the first Australian to win the event at a world championships or Olympics bettering her previous personal best by two centimetres, as well as the 10th Australian to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championship ever.
“It’s crazy, [jumping] 2.02, I don’t know what happened,” Patterson told reporters after her win.
“So many girls went two metres it was a phenomenal performance from everyone. I’m so thrilled to clear 2.02. I’m so proud of myself and my team”.
The victory was made all the more impressive given Patterson walked away from the sport after missing out on selection for the 2018 Commonwealth Games team. Moving to Sydney in 2019, she worked hard to regain her world-leading form and finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics.