Eleanor Patterson may not have come away from the World Athletics Championships with a medal.
But the Australian high jumper came away with something much more fulfilling after a horror competition that was twice delayed due to torrential rain.
Compatriot Nicola Olyslagers leapt to the gold medal, with Maria Żodzik in silver on countback after both women failed to leap 2.02m.
That left Ukrainian world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Serbia’s Angelina Topić with a share of bronze with a clearance of 1.97m.
However, the 20-year-old Topić had to wait over half an hour in the rain to see whether she would take a share of the bronze medal, with Mahuchikh attempting 2.02m as well, having passed following a first-up failure of 2.00m.
“It’s bittersweet in a lot of ways,” Patterson said after sitting with Topić.
“I was very proud that I was able to be a part of a moment with Angelina Topić.
Angelina Topić claimed her first medal at a senior world championships. (AP Photo: Ashley Landis)
“She had half an hour to wait to see whether Yaroslava cleared another bar as to whether she had a bronze medal.
“I’m one of the older girls in the group and it was a moment where I could really be a big sister to her.
“I get along with her really well and so to comfort her through that moment.
“She was quite overwhelmed and not sure whether she was gonna retain that bronze medal, and so that was a beautiful moment for her.
“I actually am, in some ways, happier that I didn’t jump 2 metres, so that she was able to have that moment and I was able to share it with her.
“It was a beautiful moment of just humanity and sportsmanship.
“It was so nice to be able to be there for someone through that.”
Patterson and Topić sheltered together under an umbrella while the second rain delay took place, the younger woman with her head on the Australian’s shoulder, an island of reassurance amidst a maelstrom of emotions.
Angelina Topić shared the medal with world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh. (AP Photo: Louise Delmotte)
The 29-year-old former world champion was able to channel her own experiences into helping her young rival, having had a similar experience at the Paris Olympics last year.
There, Patterson shared bronze with Ukraine’s Iryna Herashchenko.
“Last year, I fell on the other side of things and came away with a bronze medal with 1.95 and, you know, had to wait that out,” she said.
“So to see her go through that, having done last year, I felt blessed that she could come to me and that I could comfort her through that.
“I think there’s so much beauty in even failure.
“So I’m very happy that she was able to come with that bronze.”
For Topić’s part, she was incredibly grateful for the Australian’s support through what she described as the toughest 3 hours of her life.
Angelina Topić paid credit to Eleanor Patterson for her support. (Reuters: Aleksandra Szmigiel)
“In Paris [at the Olympics] I didn’t get a chance to show what I can do,” Topić said,
“I promised myself this time I would give everything I have in my body to try to win this.
“It was very stressful. I cleared all my heights on the first attempt. It was mandatory for a medal to be won and after 1.97m, it started raining like crazy.
“I still was ready for more, but unfortunately, I was not able to clear my personal best at this time, during this rain.
“I was standing at second place after my failed attempts and quickly second became third. I was just landed next to Eleanor Patterson, I was crying like a baby, I don’t think I would have survived this without her.
“I love her and thanks to her, I was OK.”