Some 3,000 spectators gathered around the vault on the Place de l'Europe and the Grand-Pont overlooking it to witness the best competition of the year. Ukrainian co-favourite Yaroslava Mahuchikh, the strongest on paper with her record at 2m05, had to leave the limelight to Olyslagers but also to her astonishing compatriot Iryna Gerashchenko, who equalled her personal best with 2m and a 2place.
"My coach came all the way from Ukraine for this competition, so I'm delighted and very grateful," exclaimed Gerashchenko, who had chosen oriental-inspired music to punctuate her jumps. Mahuchikh had to settle for 3rd place with 1m97. Her gamble of asking for a 2.02m bar for her last two jumps after missing her first attempt at 2m didn't pay off.
Queen of Lausanne, Nicola Olyslagers, charmed by the atmosphere and the setting, has promised to return to the shores of Lake Geneva as soon as possible. The notes she takes in her personal notebook after each of her jumps undoubtedly contain a wealth of information, which could lead her to the world title in two months' time in Budapest. In any case, the former Mrs McDermott didn't miss by much on her three attempts at 2.05m. She's got this height in her legs. Present in the VIP tribune, IOC President Thomas Bach was delighted.
Switzerland's Salome Lang, returning from injury, took 10th place with 1m87, while double Olympic heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium came in at 1m91 (8th).
Lausanne. Wanda Diamond League. City Event. Hauteur dames : 1. Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) 2m02 (MPM). 2. Iryna Gerashchenko (UKR) 2m. 3. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) 1m97. 4. Morgan Lake (GBR) 1m94. 5. Yuliia Levchenko (UKR) 1m94. 6. Ex aequo Daniela Stanciu (ROU) et Angelina Topic (SRB) 1m94. 8. Nafissatou Thiam (BEL) 1m91. 9. Elisabeth Pihela (EST) 1m91. 10. Salome Lang (SUI) 1m87. 11. Carmen Bruus (EST) 1m83.
