Patterson soars to No.2 in the world

NSW Institute of Spot scholarship holder Eleanor Patterson became 2025’s world’s No.2 ranked high jumper after clearing 1.99m in Slovakia, automatically qualifying her for next month’s world indoor championships in Nanjing and then the world championships in Tokyo.

Patterson, a former world champion who won the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, soared in Slovakia to finish second to Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who cleared 2.01m.  

Patterson’s first attempt at 2.01m was painfully close. Nevertheless, clearing 1.99m was her season’s best performance and puts her in good stead for next month’s world indoor championships in China.

Mahuchikh, the defending world champion and reigning Olympic gold medallist, became the first woman to clear over two metres this year.

NSWIS