2025 NRL Season
Round 26
South Sydney – Bye
In praise of Nicola Olyslagers
World Athletics: The Zurich Diamond League and a Year 12 student named Gout Gout
With South Sydney’s NRL banking the two competition points from the bye, during this past week, one of Australia’s leading track and field athletes, the Olympic high jump silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers, broke the national record in Zurich with a leap of 2.04m.
The Zurich diamond league final (August 27 & 28) was the culmination of a series of 15 meets around the globe during 2025.
Held over two days, day one events were held in the Sechselautenplatz in Zurich city centre, so fans could be up close and personal with the world’s best pole vaulters, high jumpers and shot putters.
The current superstar of men’s pole vault is Amand Duplantis, who has been breaking the world record in one-centimetre increments, as did Sergey Bubka back in the day.
Bubka broke the world record 35 times.
Duplantis, who represents Sweden even though he was born in Louisiana, has vaulted 6.29m. His father is American while his mother, a former heptathlete and volleyball player, is Swedish.
At the 2024 Zurich diamond league event, the pole vault events were held inside the city’s main train station. Quite a spectacular backdrop!
Nicola defeated the world record holder, YaraslavaMahuchikh of Ukraine to win the diamond league crown. Last year, Mahuchikh bettered a 37-year-old previous world record height with a clearance of 2.10m.
Olyslagers and Mahuchikh will meet again in the 2025 world athletics championships in Tokyo on 21 September.
Write that date down and tune in to either SBS (Bruce will be commentating) or Channel 9.
Unprecedented times: a world athletics championships telecast on two networks in Australia.
Why? His name starts with ‘G’.
Yesterday, Australia announced a team of 88 athletes to compete in Tokyo, starting on Saturday week.
Year 12 Ipswich Grammar School student Gout Gout, the Australian record holder in the 200m, is part of the team. In addition to the 200m, Gout Gout is also a part of the 4x100m relay squad.
After people realise I lived in Brisbane for 32 years (until 2023), I am often asked: “Do you know Gout Gout?”
Then I am often also asked: “Do you know his coach? (Di Sheppard)”
The answer to both questions is yes.
The last time I uttered a few words to Gout Gout, congratulating him on a win in the Australian schools championships, he showed the manners all staff at Ipswich Grammar School – and my previous ‘GPS school’ work place, Brisbane Boys’ College – expect at all times, with the words “thank you, Sir”, combined with a firm handshake and a huge smile.
Di is a hard task master. Tough love … there is deep care at the core of the dynamic.
Craig Bellamy is a hard task master.
I’ve heard the great Paul Roos talk about his coaching influences – Robert Walls, and others – as being ‘tough men’.
I can accurately comment, based on observation and interaction over many years: Di is absolutely the perfect fit for those Ipswich Grammar School boys.
Di also coached Joseph Deng, the young man who in 2018 broke Ralph Doubell’s long standing 800m Australian record.
Andrew Webster wrote a feature piece around Gout Gout and Di Sheppard in the Weekend Australian magazine last Saturday. In true Andrew Webster style, he did not leave any topic out, including racism and youth crime in Ipswich.
Athletics on the front page, and in the magazine, thanks to a Year 12 student who is the fastest Australian all time in the 200m.
Exciting times indeed.
Nicola Olyslagers breaks Oceania record in Zurich Final high jump – Wanda Diamond League 2025
Zürich 2025: Sechseläutenplatz, 27th August – Wanda Diamond League – YouTube
Record 88 Australians selected for 2025 World Athletics Championships | SBS Sport
South Sydney Weekend Results
Jersey Flegg: 22-22 all draw v Silktails, in Fiji
NSW women’s: South Sydney 18 defeated Steelers 14
BAROSSA VALLEY RED WINE OF THE WEEK
2024 Whistler Divergent S. M. G.
Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa,
Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named
after the South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen
To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE.
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
To see the full 2025 season draw for the NRL click HERE.
To see the full 2025 season draw for the NRLW click HERE.
To see the details for State of Origin in 2025 click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE.
About Russel Hansen
Russel Hansen Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country. He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder. He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters. Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
- More Posts
Russell – we need a Scott Morrison style miracle for the Mighty Rabbitohs to pluck the Male Chickens tonight. I’m praying hard!
There will certainly be some soul searching over the spring & summer to get the combinations & spirit right for 2026. A fit Cam M will be a critical part of the revitalisation.
Karl: South Sydney’s last review – end of 2023 – after Sam Burgess famously called out Latrell & Cody receiving preferential treatment (why would Sam make that up?!) resulted in the club extending Demetreou’s contract, only to sack him 8 rounds into 2024.
After the last 2.5 seasons, a review is required – all depends on how objective and independent the process is ….