Olympics, 2024: Michelle Jenneke in best shape of life as she chases Rio redemption at Paris

Eight years after leaving the Rio Olympics in controversy, hurdler Michelle Jenneke is in the best shape of her career and running faster than ever as she eyes redemption at the Paris Games.

Michelle Jenneke is now a two-time Olympian. Picture: Getty Images

Eight years after departing the Rio Olympics with her form and fitness under fire from within, Michelle Jenneke will return to sport’s biggest stage in the best shape of her career.

Jenneke is now a two-time Olympian, a remarkable feat when you consider the events of Rio when she was run out in the heats and questioned by then-national head coach Craig Hilliard over her commitment to her sport.

Jenneke’s commitment is now beyond question, as evidenced by her performances on the world stage and the way she has steadily lowered her personal bests in recent months.

She has come a long way since Rio.

“I mean, you run a personal best time, you must be, right?” Jenneke said when asked whether she was in the best shape of her career.

Michelle Jenneke is in the best shape of her life leading in to the Paris Olympics. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve also been hitting personal-best training sessions in the lead-up. I’ve been seeing some really good performance at training and I really do think that I’m in the best shape of my life.

“I’ve been on the global hurdles (circuit) for a while now but I really have seen the event evolve over that time.

“It is exciting to be a part of it and other people running fast makes you run fast.”

Jenneke is doing that. She rattled off another PB in the Netherlands in the lead-up to the Games in a sign that she is ready to keep the big guns of the sport honest.

At 31, having become a fixture in national teams, Jenneke no longer feels the need to prove herself.

“I have never really been interested in showing anyone anything,” Jenneke said.
“I don’t do this for anyone else. I do it for myself.”

Australia’s Michelle Jenneke during the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Picture: Michael Klein

That doesn’t mean others haven’t been along for the ride. At times, the sporting world has had its eyes glued to Jenneke’s journey.

Her pre-race dance routine made her a global sensation leading into Rio, where she shared billboards with Usain Bolt.

Back then, Jenneke would have been content to crack 12.60sec. Now she is doing that regularly and eyeing off 12.50sec, a time that would have put her in contention for gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

These days, it may struggle to make the final.

“I think I have proved to myself that I am the athlete I wanted to be,” Jenneke said.

“I always said to myself that I can get into the 12.60s. I have done that five times now. I didn’t think I would be consistently that fast.

“I thought it would be a one-off. I think I have got the best from myself. I think I have the potential to go lower. I think that 12.50sec could be on the cards.

“I am trying to be really positive towards those times. The reality is that I have really no idea what to expect at the Olympics.

“We’re probably in the strongest era of hurdles that potentially we have ever seen.

“So as much as I might be running the best that I ever have, I don’t know if that will be enough to make a final because there are lots of women out there who are just running faster.

“But I’m really hoping to go out there and to run a personal best.

Michelle Jenneke believes this is the strongest era of hurdling in some time. Picture: Getty Images

“In 2008, when Sally (Pearson) won silver medal at the Olympics – I mean obviously different conditions, championship racing – but she ran 12.64sec.

“These days, 12.64sec, I don’t think we’ll get anywhere close to making a final.”

Olympics aside, Jenneke is now a veteran of the Australian team. She has been to five world championships and three Commonwealth Games, making her one of the more experienced athletes in the team for Paris.

Few have experienced the vicissitudes of the sport like Jenneke.

Michelle Jenneke is chasing Olympic Games redemption after her controversial exit at Rio. Picture: Getty Images

“I think that people are happy to see me doing so well,” Jenneke said.

“I think at least the athletics community that I’m a part of, it seems to be pretty positive.

“But even when I wasn’t running that fast … I think the whole community is quite good.

“Everyone’s happy for each other when they’re running well. It’s pretty insane what’s happening in the world of hurdles. I think it’s being probably talked about enough, just how strong it is.

“It’s probably one of the strongest events globally at the moment. I’m going to show up again and do my best to be there but I’ll just be happy running well for myself.”

And for her country.

“It’s not something I ever thought that I’d do – I didn’t think I’d make an Olympics,” she said.

“So I’m feel very honoured to be able to go to my second Olympics and I’m just hoping to do it really proud.”