Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Nicola Olyslagers funded her early athletics career by working in a café in Australia while studying biochemistry at university. Her routine included a two-hour train commute each way to Sydney, balancing studies, training, and work to finance competition trips.
Olyslagers extended her biochemistry degree from three to six years by studying part-time. She found the field challenging but believed it taught her the value of hard work in all aspects of life. She completed her studies following the Tokyo Olympics, using the Covid quarantine period to focus and finish her degree.
Her café work, mainly cleaning during shifts with Colombian baristas, was physically demanding, often involving six hours on her feet before training sessions. This experience taught her to appreciate hard work and manage effort, shaping her mindset as she became a professional athlete about four to five years ago.
At age 20, Olyslagers considered quitting athletics due to dissatisfaction but decided to continue, eventually becoming a world champion. Alongside her sports career, she co-founded the Ministry of Everlasting Crowns, supporting Christian athletes.