When Nicola McDermott was 8 years old, she had a desire to one day be an international High Jumper. After trying her hand at a large number of sports she found herself at Little A's and the already quite tall 8 year old felt right at home. She discovered early on that no woman in australia had ever jumped over 2 metres and that mark quickly became the dream.

At 24 years old, the dream is now a working reality, which is hardly surprising when you come to appreciate the determination, focus and self belief that Nicola possesses. For the past 10 years she has equalled or improved her high jump PB each and every year. On the 18th of April 2021 at the National Champs she jumped 2 metres to become the first Australian woman to soar that high.

She would go on to break the Australian Record again at the Olympics where she cleared 2.02m and finished with a Silver medal. McDermott captured the attention of the world in Tokyo, her unique approach to jumping includes journalling and rating herself after every attempt and a deliberate pre-jump ritual where she looks to the sky, starts the slow clap, yells COME ON and smiles the biggest smile that just fills everyone watching with joy.

That smile, the journal and her devout faith are 3 constants that McDermott has with her at all times. The World Record currently stands at 2.09m and no one has seen a woman jump higher. I get the feeling that Nicola's faith and belief might just have us all witnessing something none of us have ever seen before in the near future.

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Find Nicola on instagram @nicolalmcdermott.

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