Bruce McAvaney's Golden Predictions: A Year of Unprecedented Potential

As the Australian 2025 athletics season dawns, the ‘Voice of Athletics’, Bruce McAvaney, reflects on a horizon brimming with possibility.  

With his trademark eloquence and unerring eye for potential, McAvaney paints a picture of a "golden summer," heralding an era of excellence that could redefine the nation's sporting legacy. 

“This summer feels special,” he said. “There’s a sense of momentum and optimism that doesn’t come along often. From the medallists in Paris and Budapest to the rising stars in Lima, the depth of talent is something to be excited about. It’s shaping up to be a golden summer for athletics in Australia.”

At the heart of McAvaney’s vision are ambitious benchmarks for 2025, but ones that are in sight as Australia’s athletes rise to levels previously unseen. He forsees Australia securing a top-five finish in total medals at the Tokyo World Championships, potentially claiming an unprecedented three gold medals.

“It’s an ambitious goal but we’ve been trending in the right direction. We’ve never achieved three golds before but it’s realistic,” he said.

“In actual fact, there are half a dozen athletes that can start the year thinking they could end the year as world champions, and how incredible is that.”

Among his picks for glory are Women’s Pole Vault (Nina Kennedy),  Men’s Discus (Matthew Denny), Women’s 1500m (Jessica Hull), Women’s High Jump (Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers) and the Women's 20km Race Walk (Jemima Montag).

Beyond podium finishes, McAvaney identifies long-standing national records under threat.

“Darren Clark’s 400m record from 1988 could be the next to go and Kyle Vander Kuyp’s hurdles mark from 1995 are both vulnerable,” he says.

Paris Olympians Reece Holder and Tayleb Willis are athletes to watch in both events. According to McAvaney, Matthew Denny could surpass the 70m mark in the Men’s Discus, and in sprinting, McAvaney believes a second Australian could break the magical 10-second barrier in the 100m.

"Gout Gout is most likely and Rohan Browning is the other possibility if he can return to full fitness. The other remarkable teenager, Cam Myers, has a realistic chance of joining Olli Hoare and Stewy McSweyn in dipping under 3:30 for the metric mile which is incredibly exciting."

For women, McAvaney sees potential milestones, including Nina Kennedy’s quest to clear 5.00m in the pole vault and Jessica Hull’s ambition to break the 3:50 barrier in the 1500m. Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson too could set new heights in the high jump at 2.05m, while Jemima Montag is tipped to deliver a world class performance in the 20km Race Walk, achieving a 1:25 time.

With the World Para Athletics Championships announced for New Delhi in September, Paralympic athletes are equally poised for a standout year.

 Angus Hincksman and Reece Langdon both have a shot at breaking the 1500m T38 world record, while vision impaired javelin thrower Jackson Hamilton could make history as the first Australian Paralympian to throw an implement further than 70m, and Madison de Rozario is poised to have her most successful year on the World Marathon Majors circuit now that she has set her focus solely on the roads.

 It’s not just the records and medals that excited Australia’s favourite commentator. McAvaney speaks passionately about the unique potential of rising sprint star Gout Gout.

“We haven’t seen focus like this on the sport since Cathy Freeman,” he says.

Balancing excitement with caution, McAvaney urges the nation to support Gout with patience and joy, celebrating his achievements without undue pressure.

“It’s important we celebrate his achievements without placing unnecessary pressure on him.”

For McAvaney, 2025 isn’t just about records or medals. It’s about celebrating a sport that continues to evolve and inspire.  As he puts it, “We’re entering a rare moment in the sport, and the beauty of athletics lies in its unpredictability – there’s always a moment waiting to surprise us.”

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 1/12/2025