Starc flourishes in Florence with an Olympic qualifier

After a difficult domestic season, Australia’s premier male high jumper Brandon Starc has cleared the Olympic qualifier at the Wanda Diamond League in Florence, Italy this morning.

Sailing over the bar at 2.33m, Starc’s (Alex Stewart) season breakthrough saw him jump the same height of Ilya Ivanyuk (ANA) and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi, and the clearance was his best result since equalling the Australian record in 2018.   

Ranked number four in the world, Starc said successfully jumping at that height has given him a much-needed boost of self-confidence after an inconsistent season.

“To be honest, I wasn’t worried about Tokyo. I was pretty secure on the rankings so getting a qualifier wasn’t a worry,” he said.

“For me it was more about jumping high and feeling like me again leading into Tokyo. It’s been an up and down season so far and I knew the heights were there, I just needed to work it out.”

“Tonight was a battle and I’m proud of myself and proud of the fight I put in to stay in it. I just needed to fire up and back myself.”

Starc said being around world-class competition motivated him to succeed, stating:

“The whole reason we decided to head overseas was to prepare for Tokyo the best we can. Having these guys to jump against on the regular is exactly what is needed,” he said.

“All my opponents are top quality jumpers and I’m looking forward to battling it out a little more heading into the Olympics.”

The Olympic qualifier follows the comeback of Starc’s training partner and compatriot Eleanor Patterson (Alex Stewart), who jumped a sensational 1.93m at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Turku, Finland this week, where she proved that injury has not hindered her chances of success in Tokyo.

Patterson placed equal first with Poland’s Kamila Licwinko in difficult conditions, after missing jumps on lower heights. The meet was also only her second of the year after missing the Australian Track and Field Championships due to ongoing injury

“This is a good start. It was hard out there with the weather, the other girls and the likes. With a few misses on my score card, I didn’t make it easy for myself but I fought it out,” she said.

“It is a building block for the remainder of the season, that I feel is only the beginning of gaining momentum of more and more confidence in my movement and myself to reach bigger heights I know I am capable of.”

Both Starc and Patterson are coached by AA Event Group Lead for High Jump, Alex Stewart, and credit him for their success.

“Having a group and support system with my coach Alex and our squad as well as the fellow Aussies over here too has been a great help,” said Patterson.

“Being thrown into the deep end of the changed world, and athletics world we are in; with countless COVID tests, bubbles, increased protocols when travelling and the likes. I feel you have to be prepared for anything to happen.

“I love this sport and what I do so I am enjoying this journey that I am on.”

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 11/6/202