Tokyo Olympics 2021: Aussie sprinter Rohan Browning preaches patience as key to 100m career

‘It’s a mature man’s event and it takes time to develop into a career.’ At 23, Aussie sprinter Rohan Browning has time on his side as long as a weakness quickly becomes a strength.

Patience is not Rohan Browning’s strength but Australia’s ‘Flying Mullet’ says that is the biggest takeout from a memorable Olympic debut.

The Sydney University law student captured the attention of Australia and the world’s best sprinters with a heat victory and fifth-placed finish in the 100m semi-finals.

Twenty-four hours on from just missing out on the Olympic final, Browning, 23 was slowly starting to get an appreciation of his achievement, although he was still annoyed about the start of the race.

Rohan Browning fell short of his final goal and bowed out in the 100m semifinals.

“It is a mature man’s event, the men’s 100m sprint and it takes time to develop into a career,” Browning said.

“It doesn’t all have to happen today, I am slowly learning lessons in patience.

“I’m disappointed with the result, I wanted to be in the final and that was the minimal expectation I had set for myself.

“I know exactly where I went wrong, so I can live with it. I reacted well (at the start) but there is more to it than that.

“In the 100 metres you only take 52 steps, or whatever it is, and you have to make everyone of them count.

“I missed the kick at the start, I worked too hard, popped my head up, got a bit desperate and then the race was over.

“I know exactly where I went wrong and I have a few races in Europe now to try and put it all together and keep building.”

Browning made a statement in Saturday night’s heats when he led all the way from lane one to win a personal best 10.01sec - the second fastest time ever run by an Australian.

Rohan Browning is heading to Europe next after his Olympic exploits.

He was unable to replicate that in the semi-final where he ran 10.09sec. In a shock result, the Olympic title went to Italian Marcell Jacobs in 9.80sec.

“There are lessons to be learnt in running rounds at this championship level,” Browning said.

It is one thing to run in Australia where it is quite low key and then to come and run against the world’s best.

“I think one of the things I learnt about myself is I love being out there under the lights, no matter the result at the end of the day it is just the greatest joy to be out there competing in the Olympic Games.

“The whole experience was a joy. I wasn’t far off, I just need to do a few things a bit better.”

The reaction to his performance back home has been off the charts but Browning admits he hasn’t got his “head around it yet”.

Lamont Marcell Jacobs pulled off a huge shock by winning the 100m final.

“I think the way my performance has been received has been awesome and so positive, but in a way it sort of feels a bit over the top and not commensurate with 13th placed finish,” he said.

“So I think in the scope of this season I am developing and heading in the right direction. I wanted more out of myself at this Olympics but there are more competitions to come.”

Browning leaves Tokyo on Tuesday and will have some time off in Rome before basing himself in Germany and competing throughout Europe over the next two months.

Split-second that ended Flying Mullet’s Olympic bid

Rohan Browning knows he has learnt a crucial lesson about mixing it with the big boys on sport’s toughest stage.

What he also knows is he’s alerted the world about a serious player from Australia in the 100m ranks after finishing fifth in his first Olympic semi-final.

Browning was hampered by a slow start yet still ran 10.09sec.

The 23-year-old Sydney University law student was disappointed he was unable to replicate his 10.01sec heat win from Saturday night.

Rohan Browning finished fifth in a blanket semifinal finish.,

“I had a better run in me than 10.09sec, but I gave the field too much ground early on and you can’t do that in the semi-final of the Olympics,” Browning said.

“That is just championship racing, sometimes you nail it and sometimes you don’t. It’s just a sport where small margins really matter and you’ve got to be better on the day.

“It is tough. I just never got out and then I had my work cut out for me. I feel like I came back well through the end of the race but I left myself with too much work to do and it is only 100m.

“I’ve been consistent this year, knocking on the door of sub-10 and a big breakthrough. Hopefully it comes later in the year in Europe.

“Ultimately I have learnt a lot from this, that is the main thing.”

Browning, who moved past Matt Shirvington to second on Australia’s all-time list, became an overnight sensation when he burst through to win his 100m heat from lane one, taking down former world champion Yohan Blake in the process.

Browning finished fifth in his semifinal.

He was immediately labelled Australia’s Flying Mullet and was even compared to Hollywood heartthrob Zac Effron.

Browning is the pin-up boy Australian athletics has been crying out for since the retirement of Olympic hurdles champion Sally Pearson.

It had been 17 years since the green and gold was on display in the blue-riband event at an Olympic Games.

He has charisma, looks, intelligence and a burning desire to defy the odds in the toughest gig in world sport.

And on what he displayed in Tokyo, the message was clear - bring on Paris 2024.

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics 2021: Aussie sprinter Rohan Browning preaches patience as key to 100m career