Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
200 metres: 2009 - 6th (5th Australian)
400 metres: 2003 (U20) - 3rd, 2004 (U20) - 2nd, 2006 - 3rd, 2007 - 1st, 2008 - 3rd, 2009 - 1st

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
World junior championships: 2004 - 400m 6th (46.84), 4 x 400m 7th (3:07.95)
World Cup: 2006 - 4 x 400m 8th (3:05.54, split 46.01)
Commonwealth Games: 2006 - 400m 8th SF (46.47), 4 x 400m 1st heat (3:03.04), DNC 1st final
World University Games: 2007 - 400m 1st (45.49), 4 x 400m 2nd (3:02.76), 2009 - 100m 8th SF (DNQ), 200m 8th SF (DNQ)
World championships: 2007 - 400m 5th SF (45.25), 4 x 400m 6th heat (3:02.59, split 45.7), 2009 - 400m 4th SF (45.32), 4 x 400m 3rd final
World indoor championships: 2008 - 400m 6th (46.93)
Olympic Games: 2008 – 400m 7th SF (45.17), 4 x 400m 6th (3.00.03)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION:
100 metres:
2003 10.68
2004 10.95
2005 10.62
2006 10.52
2007 10.58
2008 10.74
2009 21.00

200 metres:
2005 21.30
2006 21.46
2007 21.14
2008 21.21
2009 21.00

400 metres:
2003 47.85
2004 46.80
2005 46.68
2006 45.35
2007 45.25
2008 45.17
2009 45.07

EVENTS / PERSONAL BESTS:
100 metres: 10.52 (+0.7) - Melbourne, 7/01/06
200 metres: 21.00 (+0.7) - Melbourne, 21/02/09
400 metres: 45.07 - Brisbane, 20/03/09

Interesting Facts

Sean’s mother is Japanese Australian. Fluent in Japanese, he was a hit at his first major senior international competition outside Australia, in Osaka in May 2007. Shocking even World No. 1 Jeremy Wariner during a post-race media conference Sean translated questions from the journalists in English and then answered them in Japanese.

Sporting Career

2004 – Chosen for the 2004 world junior championships at which he made the final of both the 400m and 4x400m relay, producing a personal best of 46.80 in the semis.

2006 – Recorded PBs at all three sprint distances during 2005 and by the beginning of 2006 was ready to make his mark at senior level. He surprised with a big personal best of 45.35 to finish second to Clinton Hill at the Canberra meet on Australia Day and then just pipped Mark Ormrod for third in the nationals two weeks later to gain an individual spot for the Commonwealth Games. At the Games he made the semis and ran a good leg in the relay heat to help the Australians into the final, earning a gold medal as a result.

2007 – Showed his liking for the Canberra track by improving his PB in January, before winning the national 400m title in March and earning world championships selection. Impressed at the Osaka Grand Prix in May with a third placing behind World No. 1 Jeremy Wariner. Part of his preparation also included the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Sean won gold in the individual 400m event and ran a strong final leg in the 4x400m relay, finishing second in a nail-biter with Poland. In Osaka for his world championships debut he produced a career-best run of 45.25 in the semi-finals to finish fifth. Ran the first leg of the 4x400m relay in a time of 45.7, however, the efforts of the young team – which included Dylan Grant, Kurt Mulcahy and Mark Ormrod – took out sixth place in the heat.

2008 – Finished third at the national championships. In the most anticipated race of the meet, Sean ran a strong race to narrowly be beaten by Joel Milburn and John Steffensen. A week later he debuted in the world indoor championships, where he finished sixth in the final (46.93). At his first Olympic Games in Beijing, he finished fourth in his heat in a personal best time (45.17) before placing seventh in his semi-final (45.56). A member of the 4x400m relay team that finished sixth and ran the second-fastest time ever by an Australian men’s 4x400m team.

2009 – The year got off to a flying start for Sean, winning the 400m at the Sydney Track Classic in 45.28 ahead of US sensation Xavier Carter and went on take out the same event at the World Athletics Tour Melbourne and national championships the following month, his win in Brisbane bringing with it a new personal best time and second national crown. At the Osaka Grand Prix in May Sean finished third in 45.32 behind Athens gold medallist and reigning world champion Jeremy Wariner (44.69) of the USA.Taking a sidestep from his favourite event, Sean lined up in the 100m and 200m at the World University Games in Belgrade in July, placing eighth in his semi-finals of both the 100m and 200m. Returning to the one-lap event at the London Grand Prix, Sean challenged Angelo Taylor (USA), the 2004 and 2008 Olympic 400m hurdles champion, entering the final straight but faded over the last 60m to place fourth in 45.63.

In Berlin Sean placed fifth in his semi-final of the 400m (45.32) to place 13th overall before going on to secure bronze in the 4x400m relay alongside Ben Offereins, John Steffensen and Tristan Thomas in a season's best time of 3:00.90. At the final Golden League meet of the season in Brussels, Belgium, Sean lined up alongside a quality list of hopefuls, crossing the line in 46.27 to claim seventh place.