After winning hearts with a fourth-place finish in Tokyo, the 800m runner arrives at his third Olympics having been through a messy fight with Wada
Peter Bol has a remarkable story. From Sudan to Australia to the world, the 800m runner captured the national imagination at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – becoming the first Australian man to reach the final of the two-lap event since 1968, ultimately finishing fourth. His story, his enthusiasm and his charisma captivated a country in lockdown, offering light during a dark time.
Having come to running late, Bol reached another final at the world championships in 2022 and ran to a silver medal at that year’s Commonwealth Games. His heroics had by then made him a household name.