Try to be better than the best | Peter Bol's Road to Tokyo

Peter Bol returns to the Olympic stage in Tokyo and will lead Australia’s 800m contingent following a dominant domestic season.

Bol is arguably one of the country’s best-placed athletes to make a mark in Tokyo with a solid combination of lead-in events in Europe and Australia, setting the fastest 800m time by an Australian on home soil with 1:44.62 in June.

Surprisingly the Olympian entered the sport later in life than most, with the South-Sudan born athlete only starting his athletics journey at 16.

“Shortly after an athletics school carnival one of my teachers, Helen Leahy approached me and convinced me to join an athletics club promising to help me find a mentor, a club and a coach. I thought it was a pretty good deal especially because it meant I’d be fitter for basketball, so I agreed and she delivered.” Bol said.

Since then, Bol has made the most of his opportunities and collected his first National Junior 800m title in 2013, before clocking a sub 1:48 in 2014 and a sub 1:47 in 2015.

With Rio in his sights, Bol placed fifth at the 2016 Australian Track and Field Championships, which meant he was left to chase down the Olympic qualifier in Europe. Bol was able to achieve the standard twice, first in Germany and then in Belgium to secure his first Australian team selection.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics Bol placed sixth in his heat in 1:49.36. Bol returned to the Australian team for the 2017 World Athletics Championships, before a stress fracture sidelined him for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Bol came back strong from injury to claim his first senior Australian 800m title in 2019 and was caught in a fierce battle with training partner Joseph Deng to set a new Australian Record. The competition took Bol to the next level and saw him get selected for the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha where he ran in the heat, before heading to Europe where he ran 1:44.96 in Monaco.

Building towards Tokyo, Bol has looked dangerously quick, cleaning up consecutive wins in the Coles Summer Super Series. However, the 800m Tokyo Qualifier proved to be elusive over the 2021 Summer, missing the required time by 0.03 seconds in Canberra.

“I’ve had a really good season, but not even just about winning or losing, just about being healthy and mentally there. I am just happy. It’s just kind of flowing.”

There was no doubting his dominance at the 2021 Australian Track and Field Championships. Claiming his second National Title comfortably, Bol then went on to set lightning-quick times at the Oceania Invitational Series to clock two Tokyo qualifiers of 1:44.62 and 1:44.88.

“1:44 is pretty easy, so I just want to keep pushing. It’s nice to run 1:44’s, but at the same time you know the rest of the world is running the 1:42’s, 1:43’s consistently.”

“I guess that’s what [is] kind of pushing me. Try to be better than the best.”

Bol’s form for Tokyo is undeniable, with teammate and fellow 800m Tokyo Olympian Jeff Riseley acknowledging his quick form.

“What Pete’s done in Australia the past few months is just insane. I don’t think anyone can really appreciate how hard it is to run 1:44 in Australia not once but twice,” Riseley said.

“He’s definitely capable of being the first Australian to run 1:43.”

Looking towards Tokyo, Bol admits he sees himself in the final.

“I definitely see myself in that final in Tokyo, so I don’t know if that’s a goal or something, but that’s kind of what I see myself in." Bol said. 

Peter Bol will line up for Round One of the Men’s 800m alongside fellow Australians Charlie Hunter and Jeff Riseley on Saturday 31^st July from 8:50 am WST.

To watch all the athletics action, head to Channel 7’s coverage of the Tokyo Olympics and follow Athletics West and Athletics Australia’s social media channels.

Extra Reporting by Athletics Australia and Louie J Hadfield

Photo Credit: Casey Sim (Athletics Australia)