Torrie Lewis is a sprinter who was awarded a Tier 1 Scholarship within the 2024 Sport Australian Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program. She was paired with former swimmer and Australian icon Dawn Fraser AC MBE as her Mentor.

Born in Nottingham, United Kingdom, Torrie and her family moved to Australia when Torrie was six years old, settling in Newcastle, NSW. Coming from a gymnastics background from her time in the UK, Torrie later joined the Macquarie Hunter Athletics Club in New South Wales. Torrie competed in Gymnastics and Athletics throughout her formative years.

Torrie first started competing in Gymnastics in Newcastle when she was seven years old, winning the Hunter, Country and State titles along the way before achieving 2^nd place at the National Club Championships in level 4 across all age groups. After moving to level 6, Torrie won 1^st place in the vault event and 10^th overall at this level.

Torrie eventually decided to concentrate specifically on her Athletics career, enjoying various successes throughout junior athletics across the country and the world. Between the ages of 8 and 10, Torrie qualified for the NSW State Championships in the 100m, 200m and long jump.

At age 10, Torrie competed in her first national championships where she placed 4^th in the 100m and 1^st in the 4x100m relay as part of the NSW team. Torrie accumulated several 1^st place finishes over the following years at school sports, State and National Championships, breaking several records in the process, including a 38-year-old Little Athletics State record in 200m in the 12-year-old age category. Torrie was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease at the age of 10 and accredits her change to a gluten free diet with aiding her success in training and competition.

After winning the 100m and 200m double at the Catholic School State Championships and the NSW State Championships, Torrie unfortunately discovered she had a broken foot and was forced to take 9 months off from competition for rehabilitation. Torrie returned from this injury to defend her 100m and 200m titles at the State Championships, progressing to finish the year with her first National Title in the 200m and 3^rd place in the 100m.

In 2020, Torrie relocated to Queensland and at her first QLD School State Championships, won the 100m and 200m Under 16 events. At age 16, Torrie competed in the Under 18 age group at the Australian Track and Field Championship, where she won both the 100m and 200m, leading to her selection in the Australian team for the World Junior Championships.

In 2022 at age 17, Torrie won the 100m and 200m double at the Brisbane Track Classic and the Under 20 Australian National Championships before being selected to compete at the Under 20 World Championships in Colombia in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Torrie regrettably suffered a hamstring injury which forced her to withdraw from this event and commence 6 months of rehabilitation.

Torrie is now 18 years old and has begun competing in the open age group, winning the 100m and 200m double at the Australian National Championships in 2023, becoming the second youngest Australian woman in history to do so. Torrie recently qualified for the 100m and 4x100m relay events in the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. After the World Championships, Torrie’s goal is to qualify for the Australian Olympic team for Paris 2024. Torrie currently holds five QLD State records and two Australian records. Torrie was accepted to study a Software Engineering course at Griffith University after achieving an ATAR score of 95.2 for her year 12 studies.

“This was my third time applying for this scholarship, so I was incredibly excited when I got the call saying I was awarded the SAHOF scholarship. It is an honour to be recognised by SAHOF as an athlete with such immense potential in my sport and having their support will really help me develop into the elite athlete I aspire to be.

Having Dawn as a mentor is the highlight of this scholarship. Learning from a legend of the sport who has gone out and put the work in to achieve something so incredible and experienced all the highs and lows of international competition is invaluable to me.

As I have just completed my first year competing in the open age group, having my first international season and being selected for world championships, I feel like I’ve had my first taste of what being a top-class athlete involves. So, I can’t wait to ask Dawn a heap of questions and get tips on managing aspects like travel, injuries and pressure. Especially as next year is an Olympic year, guidance from her is an amazing opportunity!”  – Torrie Lewis on being selected as a 2024 Tier 1 Scholarship Holder

Achievements & Honours  

• June 2023 – Oslo Diamond League 200m – 1^st
• March 2023 – Australian National Championship 100m – 1^st
• March 2023 – Australian National Championship 200m – 1^st
• March 2023 – Sydney Track Classic 100m – 2^nd
• April 2022 – Brisbane Track Classic 100m – 1^st
• April 2022 – Brisbane Track Classic 200m – 1^st

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Photo Credit: Casey Sims