TOKYO -- Team Australia began the final evening of competition at the world athletics championships with three medals -- all bronze -- to its name. It ended a stop-start, rain-interrupted, and at times farcical closing session at Japan's National Stadium with a fourth; this one, a prized gold medal. High jump stalwart Nicola Olyslagers proved unequivocally she's the greatest on the planet in her discipline, drawing the curtain on a highly successful track and field campaign for the 86-strong contingent from Down Under.
With no Nina Kennedy, the reigning Olympic pole vault champion, Olyslagers was pinned as Australia's great gold medal hope in Tokyo. It wasn't out of desperation, either. The 28-year-old from New South Wales had been on a tear over the past 18 months, first winning a magical silver medal in Paris last summer, then ascending to world No. 1 off the back of a swag of Diamond League triumphs. She arrived at these championships just weeks after having taken out the Diamond League Final in Zurich, setting a new national record of 2.04m in the process.
On Sunday evening, Olyslagers navigated the bar, her fierce competition, and persistent wild weather in Japan's capital to become Australia's 12th athletics world champion. Once again, she proved the class of the high jump field; each bar from 1.93m to 2.00m the same story. Olyslagers would stand at the top of her mark, clap her hands high above her head, before crying out to the heavens. Then, off she went, bounding away and flinging herself over the bar, only to spring off the mat with a look of delight splashed across her face.
And while Olyslagers was ultimately unable to earn the green circle when the bar was raised to 2.02m, her perfection in the early rounds ensured gold was hers. She took the title from Poland's Maria Zodzik -- who also cleared 2.00m for a personal best jump -- as well as Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Serbia's Angelina Topic, who tied for bronze, completing the medal set across Olympic and world championship competition.
It was very nearly a fifth medal for Australia on closing night. And on another evening, it probably would have been. Matt Denny, the world No. 2 in the men's discus, fell agonisingly short of repeating his effort from Budapest two years ago in making it to a world championship podium.
Just like the women's high jump final, the discus decider was twice halted by the wild weather in Tokyo, competition only commencing after all track events had concluded and the rain had eased ever so slightly. Organisers took to mopping the throwing circle between competitors in an effort to keep it as dry as possible, but it did little to stop them from slipping, sliding, and losing grip throughout what was a comical final. Denny was among those that suffered in the challenging conditions, unable to land three of his six attempts, including his final two.
The bronze medal winner in Paris last summer, finished his frustrating night in fourth place with a best throw of 65.57m. That effort was over nine meters short of the Australian record he hurled in Ramona, Oklahoma earlier this year, which only highlights the red-hot form he was in ahead of competition in Japan.
It may not have been the double podium celebration Australia was hoping for on closing night, but the performances of both Olyslagers and Denny capped an impressive world championships for the nation, particularly when you consider it was without Kennedy's pole vault prowess, the country's fastest man, Lachlan Kennedy, and two-time race walk Olympic medalist Jemima Montag. This meet showcased both the athletes of today and highlighted the emerging stars of the future.
It was the former who collected the medals. Kurtis Marschall got Australia on the board on night three, repeating his Olympic performance with bronze in the men's pole vault. Then, middle-distance star Jess Hull ran to a brave third place in the women's 1500m, the first Australian to ever win a medal in the event at a world championships. Mackenzie Little added another bronze on the penultimate night of competition with third place of her own in the women's javelin. And then, of course, the feat of Olyslagers.
And how about that young talent? Of course, nobody fits that descriptor more than Gout Gout. The 17-year-old sprint sensation ran to an incredible fourth place in the semifinals of the 200m, dealing with the nation's seismic expectations with aplomb. It's clear the hype surrounding Gout should be tempered, at least for now, but it's also evident the Queenslander has all of the tools required for sprint greatness.
Gout wasn't the only one of the next generation to impress during these championships. Torrie Lewis, aged 23, qualified for the semifinals in both the 100m and 200m, breaking her own national record in the former event on night one. Reece Holder, also 23, made it to the semifinals in the 400m, while on the final night, Ky Robinson -- you guessed it, another 23-year-old -- came within 0.28s of the most unlikely medal in a stacked men's 5000m final.
And then there's the relay squads. The men's 4x100m team of Connor Bond, Josh Azzopardi, Calab Law, and Rohan Browning ran an impressive 38.00s to qualify for the showpiece final. Shortly after, the men's 4x400m team was centimeters away from breaking a 41-year-old national record in their heat, running an 2:58.00, but ultimately disqualified for encroaching on the changeover line. The talent is undeniably there.
To depart Tokyo with a haul of four medals may seem a touch underwhelming for this Australian team. But when you factor just how understrength it was at the top end, what might have been, and the exposure to the highest level the next crop of track and field stars have just received, this meet should be considered a resounding success.
At the conclusion of the world aquatics championships in Singapore last month there was an overwhelming feeling the Olympic Games in Los Angeles can't come soon enough for Australia. It's a sentiment that is likely going to be shared by the Athletics Australia after these recent exploits in Japan.
Here's how the final night at the world championships unfolded: