Second-fastest man in history’s priceless reaction to being ‘beaten by an Aussie’

Rohan Browning didn’t just introduce himself to Australia last night, he stormed on to the radar of the athletics world.

Rohan Browning was too quick for Yohan Blake.

Bruce McAvaney sounded like he was calling Winx and countless Australians jumped off their couches in jubilation, but perhaps the best reaction to Rohan Browning’s barnstorming heat win in the 100m on Saturday night came from his most experienced rival.

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake thought he had seen it all in the world of track and field.

The 31-year-old who won gold 10 long years ago at the 2011 world championships as the youngest champion ever and also grabbed silver behind Usain Bolt in London has been a staple of the sprint circuit.

He still holds the record for the fastest 100m and 200m times by anyone outside his legendary compatriot Bolt and would have lined up in his first run in Tokyo expecting to cruise comfortably to victory.

Perhaps Great Britain’s Chijindu Udah might make him work for it, but the young Australian with the strange long mane of hair over in lane one? We’re betting he wasn’t even on Blake’s radar.

But as the world discovered in the next 10.01 seconds, that Aussie can run – and Blake’s stunned reaction after finishing second in 10.06 seconds ahead of Udah (10.08) was “priceless”.

Yes Yohan, you just lost to an Aussie.

It didn’t go unnoticed by Tamsyn Manou.

“Yohan Blake has looked across and you know what he’s thought, ‘Who is that in lane one? I’ve been beaten by an Australian!’ Yes, you have Yohan Blake,” the Aussie athletics great said in commentary for Channel 7.

Browning, 23, also told Channel 7 post-race: “I doubt those guys have any idea who I am” and Blake’s reaction suggested the same.

Rohan Browning 😳😳. Even Yohan Blake looked shocked when he saw the Aussie speed passed..👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 #Olympics#100M#Athletics

— nemzy (@nemani_nadolo) July 31, 2021

Rohan Browning. How good. Yohan Blake gave a solid WTF.

— iainpayten (@iainpayten) July 31, 2021

How's Blake with the look over at Browning?

That's absolutely priceless. #Tokyo2020

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) July 31, 2021

An image we are not used to seeing in sprinting (I know it’s only the heats). You beauty 🇦🇺💚💛@Rohan_Browning - serious wheels!! Yes that’s Yohan Blake in the middle. #100mpic.twitter.com/dnKaV5cZUh

— Luke Elvy (@Luke_Elvy) July 31, 2021

The Tokyo Olympics are the first since Athens in 2004 to take place without Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, winner of eight golds.

Bolt retired after the 2017 world championships in London, after taking three consecutive Olympic 100m titles in Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro, as well as three straight 200m crowns.

The semi-finals and final on Sunday were blown open after American Trayvon Bromell, who owns the fastest time this year of 9.77sec, the seventh-quickest in history, scraped through as a fastest loser after finishing fourth in his heat.

US teammates Ronnie Baker and Fred Kerley have been left holding the baton while Canada’s Andre de Grasse and South African Akani Simbine are sure to offer some decent competition.

Blake, though, is talking up his prospects of keeping the Jamaican flag flying in the 100m.

“A little bit rusty,” he said of his performance.

“First run, get the cobwebs out. I don’t feel too bad at all and I know I am in great shape so I am not worried.

“But I will come back tomorrow and do what I have to do.”

– AFP