Well whatta you know mate, that sheila sure can run.
Tamsyn Lewis at the ripe old age of 29 may finally be getting down to the business of running. For long, the striking lass of Australia has been making the headlines for either who she is coached by, photos in magazines or spats with team-mates.
Lewis recorded a sub 2min 800m when finishing 3rd in the Madrid meeting over the weekend.
sub 2min will certainly not light up the world however it may show that Lewis is committed to her sport rather than her image.
When coached by Sebastian Coe the headlines were rife about an affair. Then there were the photos that got the pulses running however no performances on the track to match. This was followed by the much publisized spat between her and Jana Pitman. Nothing within that lot could underline whether the blonde could actually still run.
It must be rememered that Lewis has won 3 Gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in the 4x400m relay however has never produced anything on the individual side to match those glories.
Throughout the time I have watched her performances and actually admired her for still participating on the international stage and continually watched her during the events she competed which were televised. For her to go sub 2 is an achievement in my books because it shows that she has a grit about her. In the 800m she certainly has a few more years left to get something out of her career at the distance.
This year is the Track World Champs in Osaka and for her to make the final would signal her level of commitment to her sport, if she were to go better than that it should certainly silence her detractors. Well, that is until the next photo shoot.
Now anyone care to mention her coaches her these days? a Justin Lewis someone mentioned.
