Torrie Lewis Shines with Personal Best at the Olympics

Australian sprint star Torrie Lewis has made quite the impression at the Olympics! In her 200m heat, she set a new personal best of 22.89 seconds, even though she just missed qualifying directly for the semi-finals.

Torrie, just 19 years old, ran out of lane nine and finished fourth. Despite not advancing automatically, her time was a clear indication of her talent and potential. Julian Alfred from Saint Lucia won the heat with an impressive 22.41 seconds, while runners from France and Sweden also made it through.

After her race, Torrie was all smiles. She said, “That was pretty fun. I’m happy with the PB, annoyed I didn’t get into the semi-final but I’ll be back tomorrow for the repechage.” She expressed her excitement about running in front of such a loud crowd, mentioning how cool it was to experience the atmosphere.

In an unexpected twist, the sprinting lineup changed dramatically when Shericka Jackson from Jamaica withdrew from the 200m event. She was one of the top runners and had previously shown promise despite some injury concerns.

Jackson’s departure, which followed her withdrawal from the 100m, was a setback for Jamaica, especially after Elaine Thompson-Herah also had to pull out due to injuries. Both of them were strong contenders in past Olympics.

Torrie’s previous achievements had already made headlines when she outpaced Sha’Carri Richardson in the Diamond League earlier this year. This recent 200m performance at the Olympics further highlights her growing potential.

Commentators praised her run, reflecting on how, at just 19, she is competing on such a big stage and delivering personal bests. Fellow Aussie Mia Gross also competed and will take part in the repechage round after finishing her heat with a time of 23.36 seconds.