Imagine an Australian track star who’s already setting records at just 19. Sounds like a plot twist in a movie, right? Torrie Lewis is making that dream a reality. At just 19, Lewis has already made a mark as the fastest Australian woman over 100 meters and is closing in on the 200-meter national record. Her rise in the Australian track scene is nothing short of extraordinary.

She took the world by storm when she won Gold in the Australian 100m record with a time of 11.10 seconds. And then went on to also win the women’s 4x100m relay at the Sydney Track Classic. And of course, who can forget her iconic win at the Diamond League debut in Xiamen? She ended up beating world champion Sha’Carri Richardson in the 200m. Curious about the driving forces behind her sprinting rise?

Meet the parents of Australian sprinter Torrie Lewis

Torrie Lewis’s family background is as dynamic as her sprinting! Lewis was born on January 8, 2005, in Nottingham, England to Wendy Lewis. Her mother has Scottish roots meanwhile not much is known about her father. Other than, that he comes from a Jamaican-Indian heritage. When Torrie was just six, her mother made a big move to Newcastle, Australia. And it was here that Torrie’s passion for athletics kick-started. But her journey was far from easy. She was diagnosed with coeliac disease, making gluten a no-go for her. This caused her to quit gymnastics at 11. Despite this, Lewis and her family did not let sports be sidelined. She made a switch to athletics full-time. In 2020, her mother got a job in Brisbane which got them to move again.

Lewis had a rollercoaster journey with monumental ups and very unfortunate lows. In 2022, Lewis smashed trials and earned a spot in the Australian team for the World U20 Athletics Championships. She was all set to jet off to Colombia. But alas! Who could’ve seen a hamstring tear right around the corner? This caused her to pull out of the competition, 9 days before their flight. “I felt I was in the fastest shape I had ever been in,” she shared later. But Lewis sure did bounce back! In December 2022, at 18, she became a dual national champion in 100m and 200m. But another serendipity took place simultaneously. She started training under the guidance of Andrew Iselin.

Coach Andrew Iselin cheers upon his teenage sprinting star

So who is this Coach Andrew Iselin after all? In simple words, he is the mastermind behind Torrie Lewis’s rise in sprinting. Picture coaching a teen who already has a record of breaking records and making headlines worldwide. Well, that’s exactly what Iselin has been doing! Under his guidance, Lewis has set the Australian 100m record at 11.10 seconds. As Lewis reflected on her achievements, she mentioned, “I’ve always thought I was better at the 200. So I was really surprised when I broke the 100m record. But it gives me a lot of confidence because I know that if I can run 100m that fast, I can run a 200 way faster. And I can hopefully get the record with a 200 as well one day.”

Coach Iselin, from the Wiradjuri people in New South Wales, is not just responsible for Lewis’ success but all of Team Australia. He’s the man behind not one, but three Olympians heading to Paris 2024! Caleb Law, Torrie Lewis, and Lachlan Kennedy are all training under him. His game plan? His homegrown mix of technical know-how and solid mental toughness seems to have a record-breaking effect. With Iselin’s expert coaching, Team Australia’s sprinting squad is all set for track. The camaraderie between Lewis and Iselin is electric and palpable. As Torrie Lewis, Australia’s fastest prepares to make her debut in Paris, the world is watching closely.