The Australian’s Australian of the Year: A role-model hero on and off the track

Peter Bol has one prize front of mind – and that’s winning Olympic gold in Paris next year.

When he’s not training, Olympian Peter Bol spends time helping disadvantaged youth. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Peter Bol has one prize front of mind – and that’s winning Olympic gold in Paris next year.

More determined than ever after missing out on a medal in the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and taking home silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022, Bol says he “absolutely” believes he’s in for a shot at the top spot next year.

“I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think so,” the 28-year-old said.

The athlete, who credits his natural competitiveness and his family’s unwavering support for his success, labelled last year’s ­silver “bittersweet”.

“You’re disappointed but there are also so many people who supported you … you did do better than last year, so you are on the podium,” he said.

But the goal was never feeling the weight of a medal around his neck, it was the satisfaction of knowing he had achieved his goal – being the best.

“I started athletics because I was competitive. It took two years for my teacher to convince me to do athletics, so it wasn’t out of passion. I wanted to be the best,” he told The Australian this week.

Bol captivated the nation when he became the first Australian to qualify for an Olympic men’s 800m final in more than 50 years. He says he’s feeling better physically than he did in the lead-up to both Tokyo and last year’s Commonwealth Games, but remains realistic.

“Anything can happen. All I know is I’m pretty comfortable (and) confident that I’m doing what I can and I can get there.”

Bol’s tunnel vision hasn’t altered his passion for people. Between training, recovery and a few pilates classes, he volunteers his time helping kids from disadvantaged and ethnically diverse backgrounds achieve their goals through numerous charities, including Youth Activating Youth and the Bachar Houli Academy.

“I just feel like I get way more out of it than I give,” he said.

In 2022, his volunteer work sent him to the regional towns of Leonora and Geraldton in WA, where he worked closely with Indigenous communities.

Responding to his nomination as The Australian’s Australian of the Year, Bol said the achievement was a “good reflection” that he was still tied to his roots.

Bol, who was born in war-torn Sudan before his family emigrated to Australia, is a hero among Australia’s Sudanese community.

He says he never needed to “search too far” for role models – his family coming a close second to boxing great Muhammad Ali.

Dozens of his family members had packed into his living room in Perth to watch Bol compete in Tokyo, cheering him on.

In 2004, Peter had stepped off the plane in Toowoomba with not a single word of English but a love for the universal language of sport. “It’s the beauty of stories,” he said. “Australians are so diverse and multicultural. Everyone has their own story. That’s how I got the love, just being myself – and I’ll keep doing that.”

We encourage our readers to put in a nomination for The Australian’s Australian of the Year, which was first won in 1971 by economist HC “Nugget” Coombs. Prominent Australians can be nominated by filling out the form above, or sending an email to [e-mail]. Nominations close on Friday, January 20.