‘He can win gold’: Peter Bol first Aussie in Olympic 800m final since 1968

Australia isn’t traditionally super strong on the track but that may change with a new hero snapping a drought that dates back to 1968.

Peter Bol is a red hot chance.

Australia, not only do we have a sprinter, we have an 800m runner.

For the first time since the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City when Ralph Doubell won gold and set the world record in the final, Australia has a finalist in the men’s 800m after Peter Bol romped to a huge win in his semi-final on Sunday night.

The 27-year old was born in Sudan but fled the war-torn country when he was four, before arriving in Australia with his family as an eight-year-old.

And so far, he’s raising the bar for the Oceania region, having beaten the previous record in both the heats and the semi-final.

After running near the front the whole race, Bol romped home in 1:44.11 in the semi-final, the second fastest time by just seven hundredths of a second.

Commentary legend Bruce McAvaney is a convert already, stating that Bol “can win the gold medal”.

“Peter Bol, 1968 the last time we’ve had a finalist in the 800m,” he said.

“He did everything right and takes the record again. He takes the Oceania record and runs his way into the final of the 800m.

“He can win the gold medal, that’s what he could do. He is in the mix.”

Yes, that is an Aussie out in front.

While he had similar things to say about Rohan Browning, whose scintillating 100m heat run had Australia excited before he was edged out in the semi-finals, Bol is into the medal race.

Tamsyn Manou also seemed to be a believer.

“He has just run tactically perfectly, he did everything right,” she said. “There is nothing you can fault Peter Bol for. Even in the back end when he is tired and his shirt is probably caught up in his number so he is showing belly, he’s held his form and got through to the final.

“He can win. He held them all off there. It was confidence. I love the wag of the finger as he crossed the line, ‘Here we go, have a look at this’.”

But importantly, Bol isn’t getting too far ahead of himself.

When asked about McAvaney’s comments, Bol replied: “That’s a big call.”

Peter Bol celebrates after his win. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

“First thing’s first. Job’s done today but still a lot to go. We can’t under- estimate any of these runners. Any day someone can come out. Stay humble, stay focused. Creating a lot of noise back home, got to stay humble.

“(My coach) said, ‘Don’t make me cry today’, he also told me not to slow down. Winning is pretty great. I’ll take winning any day.”

And while Bol was cool as a cucumber with the brilliant performance, he said “my sister said she was so nervous”.

Footage was posted to social media showing his friends and family reacting to Bol’s semi final win.

There was a whole lot of screaming at his mum’s house. And who can blame them?

The men’s 800m final is on Wednesday August 4 at 10.05pm AEST — so we’ll see if he can stay cool in the final.