Radioactive American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has in recent years bossed the track with her explosive speed and undeniable swagger. But in 2025, a new name has surged into the sprinting spotlight, Bree Rizzo. The Australian sensation is not only challenging records but also threatening to topple Richardson from her sprint queen throne.
The Race That Shook the Track World
Heading into the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo meet, all eyes were fixed on Sha’Carri Richardson, the reigning 100m world champion. The American star was expected to set the tone for the season. But when the starter’s gun fired, it was Bree Rizzo who blitzed down the track, crossing the line first in 11.38 seconds, leaving Richardson to settle for a surprising fourth-place finish in 11.47 seconds.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way for Richardson. Tokyo was meant to be her redemption arc, a city that denied her an Olympic moment in 2021 after a well-publicized suspension. Instead, it turned into the stage for Bree Rizzo’s breakthrough.
From Dance Floors to Track Glory
Born on June 24, 1995, in Hurstville, New South Wales, Rizzo’s journey to sprint stardom is anything but conventional. She began in Little Athletics at the tender age of six, later shifting focus to dance. But it wasn’t long before her natural speed found a new home, on the beach.
At just 13, she became the youngest female to win an Australian beach sprint title. From there, Rizzo built an enviable resume in surf lifesaving, clinching titles such as the Open Female Beach Sprint World Champion in 2016 and dominating at international competitions like the Rescue World Championships in the Netherlands.
By 2019, Bree made a bold move to the athletics track after an eight-year hiatus. Her first 100m race clocked 11.63 seconds, a performance that hinted at the greatness to come.
A Rapid Rise in Athletics
Under the guidance of coach Ryan Hoffman, Rizzo’s ascent was swift. She represented Australia at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, posted silver medals at consecutive national championships, and reached the 100m semi-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first Australian woman to do so in 24 years.
Her personal bests continued to tumble, culminating in an 11.09-second dash at the 2025 Perth Track Classic. And then came her crowning moment, an astonishing victory at the Stawell Gift in April 2025.
Racing off scratch in one of Australia’s most prestigious and historic footraces, Rizzo overcame a 10.5-meter deficit to claim the title in 13.52 seconds, a feat achieved by only one other woman in history. It was a moment that etched her name into athletics folklore, and remarkably, made her and her husband, Matt Rizzo (the 2017 men’s champion), the first couple to both win Stawell Gift titles.
While Richardson’s charisma and speed have captivated fans worldwide, Rizzo’s relentless rise and stunning upset in Tokyo signal the arrival of a worthy challenger. With the World Championships the sprinting world might be on the cusp of a new, thrilling rivalry.
