Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
400 metres: 1994 (U20) - 1st, 1995 (U20) - 1st, 2005 - 1st, 2006 - 2nd (1st Australian), 2007 - 1st, 2008 - 1st, 2009 - 1st
400m hurdles: 2009 - 1st
800 metres: 1996 (U20) - 2nd, 1998 - 1st, 1998 (Commonwealth Games Trial) - 1st, 1999 - 1st, 2000 - 1st, 2000 (Olympic Games Trial) - 1st, 2001 - 1st, 2002 - 1st, 2003 - 1st, 2004 - 2nd (1st Australian), 2007 - 1st, 2008 - 1st

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Commonwealth Games: 1994 - 4 x 400m DNC, 1998 - 800m 6th (2.01.71), 4 x 400m 1st (3.27.28, split 53.5), 2002 - 800m 5th (1.59.73), 4 x 400m 1st (3.25.63, split 51.44), 2006 - 400m 4th semi (52.88), 4 x 400m 1st (3.28.66, split 52.4)
Olympic Games: 2000 - 800m 4th semi (1.59.33), 4 x 400m 5th (3.23.81, split 51.3), 2004 - 800m 5th heat (2.02.67), 2008 – 800m 8th semi (2.01.41), 400m 4th heat (52.38)
World championships: 1999 - 4 x 400m 6th heat (3.27.31, split 53.3), 800m 6th heat (2.03.03); 2001 -800m 7th semi (2.03.16), 2003 - 800m 8th semi (2.05.11), 2007 - 800m 4th heat (2.01.21), 2009 - 4x400m 4th qualifying round (3:30.80)
World Cup: 1998 - 800m 8th (2.06.64), 4 x 400m 6th (3.31.67), 2002 - 800m 7th (2.03.10), 4 x 400m 7th (3.31.32, split 52.34)
World indoor championships: 1999 - 800m 6th semi (2.02.42), 4 x 400m 2nd (3.26.87, split 51.32), 2001 - 800m 4th semi (2.04.79), 2008 - 800m 1st (2.02.52)
World junior championships: 1994 - 400m 6th (53.51), 1996 - 400m 5th semi (54.55), 4 x 100m 6th (45.50), 4 x 400m 3rd (3.32.47, split 52.7)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION:
400 metres
1993 54.84
1994 52.90
1995 53.01
1996 53.34
1998 52.60
1999 52.58
2000 51.51
2001 53.07
2002 52.21
2003 52.85
2004 53.72
2005 52.44
2006 52.36
2007 51.71
2008 51.44
2009 51.42

400m hurdles
2009 56.27

800 metres
1998 2.01.71
1999 2.00.95
2000 1.59.21
2001 2.00.86
2002 1.59.73
2003 1.59.35
2004 2.00.96
2005 2.11.37
2006 2.06.52
2007 1.59.45
2008 1.59.43

EVENTS / PERSONAL BESTS:
400 metres: 51.42 - Brisbane, 20/03/09
400m hurdles: 56.27 - Brisbane, 21/03/09  
800 metres: 1:59.21 - Canberra, 15/01/00

RECORD(S):
National indoor record - 800 metres: 2.01.85 - Valencia (ESP), 7/03/08
National U18 record - 400 metres: 52.90 - Melbourne, 20/02/94

Interesting Facts

Tamsyn began a budding media career as part of the ‘Dead Set Legends’ on Melbourne radio station Triple M and has made appearances on many television and radio programs. She showed she had other skills when finishing a very competitive third in television’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2006. Her partner is South Australian cricketer Graham Manou, a member of the 2009 Australian Ashes team.

Sporting Career

1994 – Youngest member of the Commonwealth Games team, earning selection before her 16th birthday. She was a world junior finalist over 400m in the same year.

1996 – Did not progress past the 400m semi-finals in her second world junior championships campaign.

1998 – Experimented with 800m running and was selected for both the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. In Kuala Lumpur, she was a member of the first of three 4x400m teams in which she was to share Commonwealth gold.

1999 – Won a silver medal in the relay at the world indoors.

2000 – Set PBs for both the 400m and 800m – her 800m PB still stands today. At the Sydney Olympics, she placed fourth in her semi-final of the 800m and helped the Australian relay team set a new Australian record of 3:23.81.

2002 – Contributed to relay gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

2004 – Won her sixth straight national 800m title but after the Athens Olympics concentrated on 400m until 2007, taking national gold in 2005 and 2006.

2007 – Won the national championships double. A successful international season highlighted by her quickest time over 800m since 2003 preceded her fourth world championships, where she finished fourth in her heat over the distance and didn’t progress.

2008 – Dominated the domestic season in both the 400m and 800m disciplines, including victories at the Sydney Grand Prix (800m, 1.59.59) and Melbourne Grand Prix (400m, 51.55).The decision to compete in both events at the national championships proved successful, winning the 400m in a career best time (51.44) and the 800m (2.02.12), to secure her spot in both events for the Beijing Olympic Games. A week later in Valencia, Spain, she became Australia’s fourth world indoor champion. Finishing second in her heat (2.01.85) and third in her semi (2.02.07), she was only ranked sixth heading into the 800m final. But in true gutsy Lewis style, she surged past a quality field in the home straight to claim the biggest victory of her career.

Travelled to Beijing to compete in her third Olympic Games. In a fast heat of the 800m, Tamsyn finished fourth (1:59.67) and qualified for the semi-finals. However she raced in the 400m heats prior to the 800m semi-final that evening and faded in the final quarter of the race to finish eighth (2.01.41).

2009 – Switching her focus away from the 800m and onto the 400m hurdles, Tamsyn made an impressive start to 2009, winning the 400m at both the Sydney Track Classic and World Athletics Tour Melbourne the following month. In March she surprised the athletics community by winning the 400m hurdles in 56.27, also claiming the 400m to collect her 15th career national title. In achieving the feat Lewis became the first Australian to win national titles in the 400m, 400m hurdles and 800m events.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS:
Tamsyn has strong athletics pedigree with her mother Carolyn (Wright) and father Greg both Australian representatives. Her brother and current coach Justin was also a handy sprinter. Carolyn won 17 national medals, including seven high jump titles, and competed at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. Greg’s national medal haul totalled 18 with six sprint titles, competing at both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.