Torrie Lewis is poised to make a significant impact on the global athletics stage. After reaching the semi-finals of the 200m at last year’s Paris Olympics and securing a silver medal at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Lima, the young sprinter is ready to elevate her performances. As she heads into the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the 20-year-old from Queensland has set her sights on joining the elite ranks of her sport.
“I feel like I have the experience,” Lewis confidently stated. Her journey begins with the 100m heats on the championship’s opening day, followed by the 200m later in the week, and potentially culminating in the 4x100m relay final on the event’s last day. “I want to make semifinals at least, and you know, be in contention for a final,” she added.
A personal best in the 100m would require breaking her own Australian record of 10.10 seconds, set in Canberra last year. “That’s definitely the plan, and yeah, the progression … I can see it going high,” Lewis remarked.
A Rising Star Among Australian Athletes
Lewis is part of a burgeoning wave of young Australian athletes making their mark internationally. Among them is the 17-year-old prodigy Gout Gout, who will also compete in the 200m in Tokyo. Despite the attention he garners, Lewis notes that Gout remains humble. “I think everyone just genuinely is happy for him,” she said, emphasizing his grounded nature.
While Lewis admires the attention Gout receives, she aims to carve her own path to stardom. “I guess I just look at sort of the Australian heroes like Cathy Freeman and Sally Pearson,” she said, aspiring to reach the heights of these athletic icons. With the Brisbane 2032 Olympics on the horizon, Lewis sees it as a prime opportunity to establish herself as a medal contender.
Overcoming Challenges and Injury
The year began promisingly for Lewis, with a personal best in the 200m at an indoor meet in France and a victory in the 100m at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth. However, a severe Achilles tendon injury threatened to derail her season. “I probably couldn’t do anything for a bit over a month,” she recalled. Yet, her resilience saw her return to competition just three weeks after resuming training.
This determination paid off when she clocked an 11.16-second 100m in Slovakia last month. “I think I definitely have a lot of potential to go sub 11 for sure,” Lewis asserted. Currently ranked 19th globally for the 200m and 35th for the 100m, she continues to balance her focus between the two distances.
Harnessing Experience for Tokyo
As she prepares for Tokyo, Lewis draws on her experiences from Paris and Lima. “The Olympics was just so much hype,” she said, contrasting it with the more relaxed atmosphere of the junior championships. She aims to channel the “chill energy” of Lima to remain composed in Tokyo. “You run your fastest when you’re relaxed,” she explained, emphasizing the importance of a stress-free mindset.
Lewis is also optimistic about the Australian 4x100m relay team’s prospects. “I think the girls this year, not only are we as close as a team as we’ve been this past years, but I think the fastest we’ve been as well,” she said, highlighting the team’s preparation and unity.
A Multinational Athlete with Singular Focus
Born to a Scottish mother and a Jamaican-Indian father, Lewis represents the diverse new generation of Australian athletes. Despite her speed, she never gravitated towards ball sports. “I have speed, but I didn’t have any hand-eye coordination,” she admitted, recounting her brief stint with netball.
Now, as she stands on the brink of the World Championships, Torrie Lewis is determined to reach the pinnacle of her sport. Her journey from a promising young athlete to a potential world champion is a testament to her talent and tenacity. With her eyes set on Tokyo, Lewis is ready to make her mark.
