Bruce McAvaney on Australia's Athletics Renaissance and the Inspirational Run

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Legendary sports commentator Bruce McAvaney affirms that Australian athletics is entering a promising “golden age” of development and success.

In anticipation of his role in commentating SBS’ coverage of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, McAvaney expressed that Australian athletics is in its prime, with numerous medal prospects among the approximately 80-member team.

He noted the event, scheduled from 13-21 September and aired on SBS, ranks as potentially the third most significant global sporting event, following the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, featuring competitors from 198 nations.

“It doesn’t get bigger than this,” he remarked.

“A diverse mix of Australians from various backgrounds join 197 other countries, offering unique global opportunities.”

McAvaney says Australian athletics competitors have been building impressive momentum that he believes will lead to victories in this year’s championships and continue through to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

“I think we’re at the beginning of a golden age, and at the Brisbane Olympics, in seven years time, that’s not going to go away.

“The momentum really began in Tokyo four years ago, laying a foundation that suggests this team is poised for an exciting phase, engaging the entire nation now and beyond.”

A woman wearing a green and gold jacket smiling and holding a silver medal

Australian runner Jessica Hull won the silver medal in the Women’s 1500m final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins

At the Paris Olympics in 2024, Australia’s athletics team won seven medals, the most at an Olympic Games since 1956, and the year before won six at the World Championships, also a record high.

McAvaney says momentum on and off-track makes him believe in the emergence of a golden age.

“It’s not manufactured, it’s very real, it’s not an illusion what’s happening out there in terms of the depth of talent in our country”.

Off the track he says Australia is being considered a more serious player in global athletics, with events like the Sydney marathon gaining a huge global following as one of five major marathons.

However, hopes have dimmed slightly as Olympic pole vault champion Nina Kennedy and racewalker Jemima Montag, the latter having secured bronze in the 20km in Paris, have withdrawn from the championships due to injury, impacting Australia’s overall medal prospects.

Pressure on young stars

Nearly a quarter of Australia’s team are 21 or younger, another reason why McAvaney predicts they will shine at a home Olympics.

The highest-profile young Australian athlete is undoubtedly Gout Gout, who at just 17-years-old and running 100 metres in under 10 seconds, is being compared to sprinting great Usain Bolt.

Reflecting on the Australian youngster while in Tokyo, Bolt noted that although Gout boasts talent, the path to victory is not guaranteed to be “just easy.”

“He’s very talented, with the times he’s running now and he’s really been doing well,” Bolt said.

“That’s something that you love to see because you want athletes to do well. The more athletes do well, the bigger the sport is, and I’m always a supporter of track and field getting bigger and doing bigger things.

“So if he continues on this track he’s going to be good, but it’s all about getting everything right.”

Gout will compete in the men’s 200m heats on Wednesday 17 September.

McAvaney said Gout is “so interesting” given he’s about to start his year 12 studies while dealing with global fame and pressure to perform.

A man in a purple shirt hugs a younger man in red athletics clothing

Bruce McAvaney embraces Gout Gout celebrating his Under 20s 200m triumph at the Queensland Athletics Championships in Brisbane in March, marking his first sub-20 second achievement in the 200m. Source: AAP / Jono Searle

“There’s a lot of expectation on him and noone really knows how he’s going to perform.

“But we do know he’s a rare talent and we haven’t seen anything like him in Australia. I think he will run particularly well.”

McAvaney said he thinks middle-distance runner Peter Bol is another athlete who could perform well, given he’s running faster now than he was when he placed 4th in the 800m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The master commentator flagged distance runner Jess Hull and discus star Matt Denny as other standouts, as well as high jumper Nicola Olyslagers, who won silver in Paris, as Australia’s best medal hope.

“She’s the Diamond League champion and the reigning world indoor champion; I see her chances as evenly matched with [Ukrainian Olympic champion Yaroslava] Mahuchikh. She’ll surely stand on the podium, showcasing her excellent competitive spirit,” McAvaney added.

The ‘one lap’ that inspired the whole world

This year marks the 25-year anniversary of the Sydney Olympic Games — and for many Australians, Cathy Freeman’s gold medal win in the 400 metres is among their favourite sporting memories of all time.

Asked about role models in athletics, McAvaney said the Indigenous runner is one of the greats.

“I think Cathy’s legacy is even stronger right now than it was 25 years ago,” he said.

“That’s how pure and rich that whole performance was from the lighting of the cauldron to winning that gold medal. She carried the nation on her back. The pressure was unbelievable. It would have diminished so many people but she actually took it on and soared.”

A woman in a green, gold and white track suit runs.

Cathy Freeman’s gold medal-winning 400m run at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Credit: Dean Lewins

McAvaney said the “one lap run of hers” laid down a benchmark for others to follow.

“Great performances are fleeting. What Cathy did is forever.”

Bruce McAvaney will lead the expert commentary along with former world indoor 800m champion Tamsyn Manou to call the track events, while renowned SBS commentator David Basheer will bring audiences all the action in the field.

Every session from the nine-day event will be broadcast live and free across SBS VICELAND, including the World Athletics Championships 2025 Hub via SBS On Demand, which will also feature full replays, mini recaps and Aussie Focus clips for every session.

Morning sessions will run from 8am to 1.30pm AEST on September 13–15 and 20–21, while evening sessions will be from 8pm to 11.30pm AEST each night of the championships.