Paris 2024: Aussie teen sensation Torrie Lewis inspired by the newly crowned world’s fastest woman

She ran a personal best in her heat but Aussie teen sensation Torrie Lewis will have to run again for a chance at the 200m final, and she is already taking inspiration off the newly crowned world’s fastest woman.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 04: Torrie Lewis of Team Australia competes during the Women's 200m Round 1 on day nine of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 04, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Aussie teenage sprint sensation Torrie Lewis has already taken inspiration from new 100m Olympic champion Julien Alfred.

Lewis got to race against Alfred in the opening heat of the 200m, just 12 hours after the Saint Lucia sprinter had claimed the title of the fastest woman in the world.

While she finished fourth and missed the automatic qualifying for the semi-finals by one spot - she will get another chance in the repechage - the 19-year-old produced a career-best 22.89sec.

Alfred cruised home to win the heat in 22.41sec and with just a four-year age gap between the pair, Lewis is excited about being a part of the new wave in women’s sprinting.

“She was just so dominant last night, like a real pro and you wouldn’t even really tell how young she was,” Lewis said. “So it was definitely a really good role model to kind of look up to in that sense.”

“I was impressed and I think you always have to constantly prove yourself. That’s why track and field is so hard because there’s always faster people, as we saw last night.”

Torrie Lewis is taking inspiration from Julien Alfred. Picture: Getty Images

Lewis was helped by the withdrawal of world championships medallist Ivory Coast sprinter Marie-Josee Ta Lou before the start of the heat but it meant the Australian was stuck out by herself in lane nine.

“I saw Ta Lou and Julien and then all the other girls were like, just as fast or faster than me so I was like, ‘Oh, great’ but when Ta Lou pulled out it was a little easier but we’re still coming back tomorrow,” she said.

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“(The experience) was really cool, the crowd was so loud the whole way. The French girl (Gemima Joseph) got a louder cheer than Julien and I was so glad I had a French girl in my heat because I knew the crowd would go crazy for her.

“I was pretty nervous in the days leading up but warming up and stuff. I was pretty calm, which was good. And I got excited when I started walking in the stadium.”

Torrie Lewis ran a personal best in the 200m heats. Picture: Getty Images

Lewis is the highest ranked athlete in her repechage round (8.50pm Monday AEST) where she has drawn in lane two. The equation is simple, win and you’re in.

“I mean you kind of have to be delusional to be a sprinter. I guess to think that every day you’re going to be at your best,” she said. “So even though I might not feel like it tomorrow. I’m going to tell myself that I’ll run better.

“I mean, I don’t expect to win these races. But obviously the desire is still there. I’m still young, Once I can run 21 seconds then I’ll expect to win.

“But you know, I’m just going to expect to do a PB again.”

Geelong’s Mia Gross will also be in the repechage after she finished sixth in her heat in 23.36sec.

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