Tokyo Olympics: 100m sprint and track-and-field action from Day 8 of the Games

Chris RobinsonThe West Australian
Camera IconRohan Browning after his heat win. Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Rohan Browning boldly declared he wanted to make “believers” out of the pundits after he scorched to Australia’s fastest-ever Olympic 100m time to stake his claim among the quickest men on the planet.

Browning sizzled in 10.01sec in the last of seven heats to register the equal fifth-fastest qualifying time and comfortably book his place in tomorrow’s semi finals.

The 23-year-old was only marginally behind Canadian Andre de Grasse’s 9.91sec to pace the heats.

Browning said he was on a mission to shock the world as he looms as Australia’s first 100m finalist since Hec Hogan in 1956.

“There are a lot of media pundits who are writing up well-meaning stories about how great it would be for me to make the final,” he said.

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“But I’ve never been here just to make the final.

“No matter what the bookies say, the pundits, or the punters. I hope there are a few more believers tonight.”

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Browning, from Sydney, has experienced a rapid rise since only turning his attention to athletics as a 16-year-old.

He said he had used his underdog tag as motivation as he edged out bigger names in his heat including Jamaican veteran Yohan Blake, who won a silver medal alongside compatriot Usain Bolt at the 2012 Olympics.

“When you’re in lane 1, you don’t get a personalised introduction. I was definitely trying to harness a bit of that underdog spirit today,” he said.

Camera IconRohan Browning in front. Credit: Matthias Schrader/AP

“I doubt any of those guys would have any idea who I am.

“But I’ve been patient this year. I’ve just been training and racing in Australia and I’ve been dying for a bit of world-class competition, so that’s what I was looking forward to today.”

Browning revealed he had needed three cortisone injections in his knee six weeks ago to tidy up an issue arising from the national championships.

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