Izobelle Louison-Roe at the World U20 Championships Oregon 26 (© Getty Images)
At 19, Australia’s Izobelle Louison-Roe has already established herself as one of the leading young high jumpers. Having earned silver at the World U20 Championships in Lima two years ago, she returns to the global stage in Oregon with greater experience and confidence.
Louison-Roe takes great pride in having the opportunity to represent her country internationally, describing it as “absolutely incredible” and “the best feeling ever”.
She arrived in Eugene as the world U20 leader, having cleared a PB of 1.95m twice this season – first in Canberra in January and then in Melbourne in March. The versatile Australian also won the senior high jump title at the Oceania Championships in May and equalled the national U20 triple jump record with 13.36m at the Australian U20 Championships in April.
When asked what has changed since her silver medal in Lima two years ago, Louison-Roe said she returns to the World U20 Championships with greater maturity and experience, having competed at more high-profile meetings. This time around, she knows more about what to expect from a championships of this scale.
“I didn’t really know the processes of anything or what was going on, but this time I know a lot more what to expect,” said Louison-Roe.
Australian high jumper Izobelle Louison-Roe (© Getty Images)
Arriving as the world U20 leader inevitably brings greater expectations, but Louison-Roe has learned to focus on her own performance rather than allowing outside pressure to affect her.
She does not face those pressures alone, either. Louison-Roe is coached by her mother, Karen Roe, herself a former jumper who moved into coaching after injury curtailed her own athletics career.
When Louison-Roe began to focus on the high jump and needed greater coaching support, her mother stepped into the role. Together, the pair have continued to progress as Louison-Roe has climbed the rankings and improved her performances.
Louison-Roe says one of the biggest lessons she has learned from her mother is determination, while their athlete-coach relationship has also helped strengthen an already close bond.
“I could go on forever about it, but I think it’s really special,” she said. “I trust my mum so much and so we just have a really good connection. I believe everything that she knows is the right thing.”
Louison-Roe has now advanced to Sunday’s high jump final at Hayward Field after clearing 1.79m in Friday’s qualification round.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “It was good today to feel the track and everything.”
Competing at Hayward Field felt different to her experience in Lima, with the high jump taking place in a position that leaves the athletes facing the crowd, but the different surroundings did not faze her during qualification.
As she prepares for Sunday’s final, Louison-Roe says sleep will be her “best friend”, and she plans to make the most of the two days between competitions to rest and recover before returning to challenge for gold.
Louison-Roe’s athletics career is still just getting started, and the World U20 Championships in Eugene represents another important step along the way.
Sandra Vasquez-Ramirez for the World Athletics Media Academy
