Eleanor Patterson is World High Jump champion

IT WAS simply a 'wow' moment, a lump in your throat feeling for Leongatha and South Gippsland people, anyone who has passed Eleanor Patterson in McCartin Street with her mum Helen, sat next to her at school or even competed against her at a local Little Athletics meeting.

To see her jump into the gold medal position at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA, last Wednesday, July 20 by establishing a new personal best mark of 2.02 metres, at her first attempt, was an incredible moment

It was a sensational comeback, in more ways than one, for the 26-year-old Australian, jumping last in the order, having knocked the bar off twice at 1.98 metres, but she took the lead by being the first to clear 2.02 metres as the other competitors dropped away, going on to take a last free shot at 2.04 metres, shaking her head in disbelief, as she prepared herself on the runway, in the knowledge that the gold was safely in her keeping.

She missed it but it didn't matter, Leongatha had a new golden girl, the first time any Australian has won the High Jump at World Championship level.

It was a fantastic performance by Patterson, who claimed a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships recently, where she again went up against the competition favorite, Ukrainian rival Yaroslava Oleksiyivna Mahuchikh, who took indoor gold.

Having cleared 2.02 metres at her second try, Mahuchikh joined Patterson in trying for the next height but both xxx'd out at 2.04 metres, handing Patterson the win by countback, reward for being first to set the new height.

The ‘Gatha girl was beaming having become the 2022 world champion after battling back from a loss of form in 2018 which saw her miss selection in the 2018 Commonwealth Games team after becoming the third youngest Australian-ever to win a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal at Glasgow in 2014. She took a year out of the sport, and didn't even enter a gym for more than a year, before coming back and qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where she finished 5th, jumping 1.96m, 0.08m behind the eventual winner, Russian Mariya Lasitskene.

Eleanor recalled her lowest days in the sport when interviewed after the win but chose to accentuate the positive.

"It was a phenomenal competition, such a high calibre from all the women out there and so I had to really dig deep and stay calm," said Eleanor.

Speaking about how she felt after scaling the highest mountain in her sport, Eleanor said she felt overawed.

"It's crazy. I think I'm going to be shaking my head and in disbelief for the whole week, month, year, who knows."

But Patterson hasn't got too long to bask in the glory of World Championship Gold, she's already off to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham UK starting on July 28 where she'll get plenty of stiff competition, not the least from the likes of her own team mate Nicola Olyslagers (McDermott) who won Silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The preliminary rounds of the Women's High Jump will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2020.

Eleanor's parents, Mark and Helen, were in attendance in Oregon to see their daughter's incredible achievement.

"Certainly, it's a bit surreal at the moment but when they play the national anthem it sort of hits home a bit but yeah, it's quite amazing," Eleanor's proud dad Mark said on Gippsland ABC Radio the following morning.

Mark spoke to the Sentinel-Times this week.

"For Helen and me, just being able to make the trip, regardless of the outcome, was a big thing after the past two and a half years when travel overseas has been restricted.

"The competition was a very high standard where at 1.98m there were still quite a number of competitors in the running with Eleanor in fifth place from memory and moving into fourth at the 2.0m height. At this point not in medal position.

"Moving up to 2.02m, Eleanor cleared first attempt also being a personal best for her and putting herself into first place.

"The wait and then to have Mahuchikh from Ukraine clear on her second attempt was pretty nerve-wracking.

"Both girls then had chances at 2.04m where neither made a clear jump giving Eleanor the gold.

"To be there and watch her emotion after clearing the 2.02 was incredible but at the same time we had to wait for Mahuchikh to complete her attempts.

"We are still finding it strange to think she has achieved a rare gold for Australia."

Mark explained that Eleanor is now in transit to the UK in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

"The support and well wishes from back home have been amazing.

"And we'd like to say a big 'thank you' to Burra Foods who have supported Eleanor over the past three years in these difficult times and of course Lachie Hughes at St Laurence's Primary School who started her love for the high jump."

Mayor full of praise

The whole South Gippsland community has gone up as one in praise of Leongatha's Eleanor Patterson.

"It's just a fabulous story, isn't it," said South Gippsland Mayor Cr Mohya Davies.

"She's worked so hard for this.

"She's an amazing athlete and role model and we're just so proud of her and pleased for her."

Gippsland South MLA Danny O'Brien also passed on his warmest congratulations.

“Eleanor has carried herself with such dignity through the ups and downs of her career and this win is just reward for all of her work," said Mr O'Brien.

The Leongatha Little Athletics Club, where it all began, immediately posted its congratulations: "Congratulations to former Leongatha Little athlete Eleanor Patterson on her spectacular performance in Oregon! We are all very proud of you."

And so say all of us!!