Australia`s 4×100 relay teams are emerging as a powerhouse in athletics, fueled by a mix of talents, strategy and determination.
The American sprinter highlighted Australia`s potential dominance in swimming and track events on the Ready Go podcast. Justin emphasized Australia`s commitment to nurturing young talents capable of competing internationally.
For instance, in swimming, the Australian women’s 4×100 relay team have dominated the sport for over a decade, with consecutive gold medals since 2012. At the 2023 Aquatics Championships, they broke their record with a stunning time of 3:27.96. Gatlin praises their ability to combine individual brilliance and hard work.
Meanwhile, on the men’s track, Australia`s men`s 4×100 relay team became the talk of the town after securing a quota for Paris 2024 at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas. Led by Sebastian nSultana, the team cloked a stunning 38.46 seconds, finishing second behind South Africa.
However, Gatlin noted that the team might be a serious contender in the sprinting events, with the likes of Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy now being part of the team.
“Of course, they’re young athletes, and they’re going to comprise a young team. They’ll take a couple of losses along the way,” Gatlin said.
“I think Australia’s quartet will be a young team. They just need to figure out exactly where everyone fits. Gout on the backstretch—I can definitely see that. I’d probably put Kennedy out of the blocks.
“I don’t know how the other guys run, but watching Kennedy, he looks like the fastest starter for the Aussies. That would provide some insurance.
“Then, they just need to find two more guys who can bring synergy to the third and fourth legs and close it out strong.”
Both Kennedy and Gout had demonstrated immense potential in track events. At the World Indoor Championships, Kennedy set his personal best of 10.03 seconds in 100 meters and 20.26 seconds in 200 meters.
