Knowing who you are beyond what you do — that’s what stuck with us the most when we set out to meet PUMA athlete Nicola Olyslagers, Australia’s high jump star and Olympic silver medallist. We expected athletic greatness, but what we didn’t expect was to be hit by an incredibly impressive mindset and positivity — something you can definitely draw inspiration from.
Healthy snacks or cheat treats? Medals or personal bests? Cardio or weights? We kicked things off with a fun “This or That” to get to know Nicola better. 📹
Nicola’s playbook for success
✅ 1. A People-First Partner
Being supported by people that really do care about the person, not just the athlete.
Nicola Olyslagers
Nicola Olyslagers
For Nicola, that’s the most important part of a partnership — and in her view, it’s exactly what sets PUMA apart from the rest. As an example, she opened up to us with a deeply personal and emotional story. When her manager suddenly passed away just before the Tokyo Olympics, everyone at PUMA reached out to her, offering guidance and helping her navigate the sport on her own terms. Nicola feels that athletes are often exploited, but with PUMA, she always felt protected. Even during challenging times, she never worried about PUMA turning their back on her. That unwavering trust and freedom truly reflect the heart of PUMA.
When she visited PUMA Australia, we were even able to inspire her. She admired how PUMA consistently embodies its values by genuinely caring for every employee — an approach that, in her eyes, influences not only the business and products but also the people who represent the brand. This mindset stayed with her and now inspires how she approaches her sport, viewing it as more than just high jumping, but also as a chance to make a meaningful impact on others.
When she visited PUMA Australia, we were even able to inspire her. She admired how PUMA consistently embodies its values by genuinely caring for every employee — an approach that, in her eyes, influences not only the business and products but also the people who represent the brand. This mindset stayed with her and now inspires how she approaches her sport, viewing it as more than just high jumping, but also as a chance to make a meaningful impact on others.
✅ 2. Knowing who you are outside of what you do
My breakthrough came when I realized my identity wasn’t in high jump anymore. A success can’t add or take away the beautiful identity I have. And if I fail – it doesn’t matter, because at the end of the day, I know who I am.
Nicola Olyslagers
Nicola Olyslagers
Her success is also rooted in a mindset that sets her apart from many athletes. I know it sounds like a cliché, but this one’s truly special — promise.
Nicola realizes that most athletes start defining themselves only through their sport and success — and in the process, they lose sight of who they really are. That kind of pressure holds them back more than it pushes them forward. For Nicola, true identity isn’t measured in medals, rankings, or results. It’s grounded in her faith and the unshakable belief that she is loved, regardless of what she achieves.
Now that’s what we call a great attitude. 💯
Nicola realizes that most athletes start defining themselves only through their sport and success — and in the process, they lose sight of who they really are. That kind of pressure holds them back more than it pushes them forward. For Nicola, true identity isn’t measured in medals, rankings, or results. It’s grounded in her faith and the unshakable belief that she is loved, regardless of what she achieves.
Now that’s what we call a great attitude. 💯
✅ 3. Believe It, Achieve It – and Have Fun Doing It
You will never get a high jump bar that you don’t believe that you’ve got.
Nicola Olyslagers
Nicola Olyslagers
Step three in her success formula? Total conviction and joy.
Curious how she reacted when she cleared two meters at the Olympics? She was so excited that she just started running. In her mind, she knew she should be saving energy for the next jump, but she didn’t care; she was simply running around, overwhelmed with excitement.
That joy? That’s the magic.
Curious how she reacted when she cleared two meters at the Olympics? She was so excited that she just started running. In her mind, she knew she should be saving energy for the next jump, but she didn’t care; she was simply running around, overwhelmed with excitement.
That joy? That’s the magic.
✅ 4. Own Your Routine, Trust Your Body
Your motivation isn’t relying on other people. You can internally stir it up.
Nicola Olyslagers
Nicola Olyslagers
Another key to Nicola’s success lies in her daily routine. Every day, she dedicates around 30 minutes to physiotherapy and strength exercises – not to impress her coach, but simply for herself. This self-led discipline has two powerful effects: it strengthens both body and mind. It teaches her to listen to her body, to make adjustments, to adapt – even when conditions aren’t ideal. In her eyes a lot of people focus too much on having everything perfectly set up. But then you get to an Olympic Games or World Championships and it’s just chaos and you have to be adaptable.
Nicola Olyslagers is more than an athlete. She’s a powerhouse of positivity. She reminds us that mindset isn’t just part of the game – it is the game.
And with a mindset like hers, the sky isn’t the limit. It’s just the beginning.
And with a mindset like hers, the sky isn’t the limit. It’s just the beginning.
About Nicola
Hey there! We're Tessa and Sarah, and we had the awesome chance to meet Nicola at our HQ 🫶
Still Thinking About This
The story behind the pic
Everyone went for the usual winner’s pic – but I had the idea to get on the high jump bags. And that’s how one of my favorite shots of the Olympics happened: all of us waving our flags and literally jumping for joy.
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