Young Sprinters Eye Record as Patrick Johnson Reflects on 20-Year Legacy

Posted : 10 April 2025

Patrick Johnson, Australia's fastest man and the holder of the national 100 metres record for over 20 years, is set to watch as young sprinters compete at the national athletics championships in Perth, where his 9.93-second record could be broken.

Johnson, who set the record in 2003 and remains the only Australian to break the 10-second barrier, has moved on from sprinting to a role in sports administration. Despite his long-standing record, he expressed that he would be happy to see it surpassed, noting that it's exciting to see a new generation of sprinters aiming for the achievement.

Among those chasing Johnson’s record is 21-year-old Lachlan Kennedy, who ran a personal best of 10.03 seconds at the Perth Track Classic, despite a slow start. Kennedy has since made waves with strong performances, including a second-place finish in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships and an upset win over 17-year-old Gout Gout in the 200m at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne.

Kennedy will face off against Rohan Browning, who holds the second-fastest Australian 100m time of 10.01 seconds, set at the Tokyo Olympics, as well as Gout Gout, who ran 10.04 seconds at the Australian schools championship last December.

The growing competition among Australian sprinters has helped boost interest in local athletics, especially following Australia's strong performance at the Paris Olympics. The Maurie Plant Meet, which attracted a sell-out crowd of 10,000 spectators, highlighted the rise of rivalries like the one between Kennedy and Gout.

Johnson, reflecting on his own competitive days, remembers the similar excitement when he competed against Matt Shirvington, who held the Australian record before Johnson broke it in 2003. The emergence of new talent has sparked excitement as Australia prepares to host the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.

While sprinters like Kennedy are focused on breaking the 10-second barrier, Johnson warns that achieving such milestones can come with immense pressure, particularly as the Olympics approach. He recalls his own experiences of handling expectations, admitting that his early performances weren’t always ideal, and his breakthrough came after careful rest and training.

As Kennedy and others continue to chase his record, Johnson acknowledges the hype surrounding new stars but encourages them to be ready for the challenges that accompany such high expectations.

Young Sprinters Eye Record as Patrick Johnson Reflects on 20-Year Legacy

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