Rohan Browning in danger of missing Paris Olympics in brutal blow for Australian athletics

Australia’s fastest man, Rohan Browning, is in danger of failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics in the 100m sprint after falling down the world rankings in recent days. Browning, a stunning semi-finalist in the 100m at the Tokyo Games in 2021, was placed 54th in the list of 56 spots available when the qualification period closed on June 30.

But he suddenly finds himself sitting 57th after the latest update in World Athletics' Road to Paris tables. The 26-year-old Sydneysider is now relying on an athlete dropping out due to injury or a sprinter not satisfying their member federation's entry standard with Browning to learn if his Paris dream is still alive in the coming days.

The qualification time set for the 100m was 10.00 seconds, but Browning has been unable to crack that mark during qualification. His best time is 10.10 (-0.1 wind) although he posted 10.06 in Wollongong in January but was assisted by an illegal wind of 4.1 metres per second. Browning's legal personal best is 10.01, which he clocked when he won a heat at the Tokyo Olympics some three years ago.

While he ran a 10.02sec in the Australian championships last year, a knee injury has hampered his preparations for Paris. And in the Australian national championships in April this year, he was well off the pace.

In the final, 18-year-old Sebastian Sultana (10.27sec) was victorious ahead of Joshua Azzopardi (10.39sec), Jacob Despard (10.41sec) and Browning (10.41sec). Azzopardi is 60th in the qualifying order and would need a miracle to make the cut for Paris, while Sultana sits 81st.

Rohan Browning to make Australia's Paris relay team?

Even if he misses the 100m individual event, Browning could still compete in Paris as a relay runner after an Australian 4x100m team qualified at the World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas in May. However, it is far from guaranteed that he will be selected as he wasn't part of the team that booked its spot in Paris as he was managing a knee injury.

A team consisting of Sultana, Despard, Azzopardi and Calab Law finished in the top two of its second-round heat to earn a place at the Olympics. And speaking after qualifying, Azzopardi said there might not be a spot for Browning in the Paris team.

RELATED:

• Jess Fox reveals family heartbreak after qualifying for Olympics

• 'Difficult decision': Mackenzie Arnold makes sad announcement

"Obviously it would be great to have him as he is a great runner, but this team got us to the Olympics so then hopefully the selectors and coaches reward us with that Olympic run," Azzopardi told Wide World of Sports. "I think it's a high chance [the team will remain the same for the Paris Games].

"We obviously have Rohan Browning who isn't here [in The Bahamas]. He's been a bit out of shape recently. I think this team at the moment could be lining up, but it's up to the coaches and selectors. I think everyone's just happy that we got the team there."