Australian sprint star Torrie Lewis relocates to the Netherlands, will train with Olympic star Femke Bol

One of Australia’s most exciting sporting talents is about to get a huge helping hand – linking with one of the fastest women in the world, and a Paris Olympics viral sensation.

Australia’s fastest woman Torrie Lewis is moving overseas to train alongside one of the world’s best runners Femke Bol.

The teenage sensation will next month relocate to the Netherlands to hook up with Bol’s highly regarded coach Laurent Meuwly.

In a move to accelerate the development of one of Australia’s most exciting talents, Lewis’ manager Nic Bideau has been working with Athletics Australia to facilitate the international appointment.

Bol, a two-time world champion, produced one of the moments of the Paris Olympics when she ran an unbelievable final leg of the mixed 4x400m relay, moving the Dutch team from fourth to the gold medal.

She then won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles behind American superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and silver in the 4x400m women’s relay.

Torrie Lewis is the fastest woman in Australia – and she’s set to go to a new level. Picture: Michael Klein

Meuwly works for the Dutch Athletics Federation as the head of sprinting, hurdles and relay and is based at the Dutch National Sports Centre in Papendal.

Bideau said Lewis, 19, had met a number of international coaches during the recent European season and had chosen Meuwly.

“He’s one of the best sprint coaches in the world and when you see him at the warm-up track, he has a real presence about him,” Bideau said.

“We wanted Torrie to have a good role model and there is none better on the circuit than Femke, just the way she prepares and handles herself.

“Torrie will certainly get the chance to learn a lot from her.”

Netherlands' Femke Bol was a Paris Olympic viral sensation following her mixed relay performance. Picture: AFP

Lewis broke a 10-year-old Australian 100m record in January and then showed her world-class credentials in April when she defeated 100m world champion Sha’Carri Richardson in the 200m at the Diamond League meeting in China.

At the Paris Olympics, the Queenslander set a new personal best in the heat of 22.89sec before impressively winning the repechage heat to qualify for the semi-finals where she finished seventh.

Three weeks after the Games, Lewis showed her class by setting another PB (22.88sec) to claim the silver medal in the 200m at the World U/20 Championships in Lima, Peru.

There has been speculation Lewis could move up to the 400m in the future but Bideau said that would be assessed by her new coach down the track.

“The 200m is her sweet spot right now but I’ve told Laurent to treat her like a blank sheet and for him to decide what she is,” Bideau said.

“Who knows what he might come up with, it could be 100, 200, 400 or even 400 hurdles. It’s an exciting time for Torrie.”

Lewis will attend a training camp with Meuwly’s group in South Africa in November and then compete on the world indoor circuit early next year before returning to Australia for the Maurie Plant Meet and national championships.

Originally published as Australian sprint star Torrie Lewis relocates to the Netherlands, will train with Olympic star Femke Bol