Nicola Olyslagers: The high jumper stealing hearts with her joyous smile and journalling

Australian high jumper Nicola Olyslagers has stolen hearts worldwide at the 2024 Olympic Games with her joyous mantra after winning a silver medal for the second Games in a row.

Olyslagers is the first Australian woman to jump over 2m, but she was pipped to the gold by Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who jumped 2.02m.

Despite missing out on the gold medal, the Australian won over the crowd and millions of fans worldwide with her glowing delight after every jump and her positivity when egging on spectators to get behind her.

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One thing separates her from the rest of the athletes: the diary she keeps with her while performing. Olyslagers calls it her 'Little Book of Gold.'

Her diary has proved endearing for fans and is used to rate her performances, write motivational quotes, read Bible verses, and write how she feels at the time, according to the Sporting News website.

The Daily Mail reports Olyslagers said: "The [Tokyo] Olympic Games, it was two hours and 45 minutes long. Such a long time to be out there and focused. So, I had this book full of inspiration as well as the lessons I learned. I could almost write a letter to myself."

"Originally, I was doing it because I thought no one else would see it, and then the next thing you know, your little scribbles are in the headlines. It was never really intended for that."

Her positive character and journalling have been key factors in her successes on the international stage, and she has the medals to prove it.

The 'Aussie' has won two Olympic silver medals at the 2020 and 2024 Games, bronze medals at the 2023 World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games, and gold at the 2024 Indoor World Championships.

To be a winner and be loved is every athlete's dream, and Olyslagers has both. One fan said: "Nicola Olyslager's happiness is contagious!" Another added: "Nicola Olyslagers is the cutest thing with her lil journo." A third fan asked: "How can you NOT cheer on Nicola Olyslagers?"

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