Nicola Olyslagers has become only the second Australian athlete ever to be honoured at the World Athletics awards gala as she was hailed as female field athlete of the year in Monaco.
The ever-improving high jump star, who capped the best year of her soaring career by winning the world championship in Tokyo in September, told AAP the honour bestowed on Sunday night at the Monaco Yacht Club represented "gold sprinkles on my cake" after her breakthrough campaign.
The 28-year-old from Gosford is the first Australian to win in the annual awards since hurdler Sally Pearson was voted overall women's athlete of the year in 2011.