For more than a decade, Olympic medallist Rhydian Cowley has been the quiet constant of Australian race walking. Steady, determined and never one to court the spotlight, he has let his steps tell the story.
Now, with his selection for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next week, Cowley, 34, steps into rarified air, joining the pantheon of Australian greats who have been named to a record number of teams, six, for the championships.
It’s a roll call that reads like the history of athletics itself. Steve Moneghetti, Jared Tallent, Tamsyn Lewis-Manou, Sally Pearson, Jane Saville, Kerry Saxby-Junna, Dani Stevens, and now, Cowley. It’s a testament to a career defined by persistence, resilience and an unwavering bleief in the power of steady progress.
“I’ve definitely walked a lot of Ks in those years,” Cowley chuckles, casting his mind back to his debut in Moscow in 2013.
“I’m a much better trained athlete than I was then, and I just know a lot more about how to get the best out of myself and what’s required to do that on the big stage.”
Longevity, he insists, comes from balance.
“It’s been really important for my longevity to have other things in my life outside of sport. And to keep having fun. There’s been times where things have been tough but ultimately just going back to enjoying the sport has kept me in love with it.”
It’s that approach which has seen him not only endure but become an Olympic medallist last year in Paris, and the Australian record holder at 35km.
“To reach six teams, I’m really just proud of the resilience it shows. So many good athletes miss teams because of injury or circumstance. I count myself lucky to have kept at that level and kept improving. Hopefully number six can be the best one yet.”
Standing alongside the likes of the most famous and most decorated names in Australian athletics still feels surreal.
“When I was in high school I was watching Jared (Tallent) win his first Olympic medal. When I was in primary school, I remember watching Mona run the marathon at the Sydney Olympics. You still picture those guys as the heroes you were watching growing up. It’s kind of crazy to feel like maybe there might be someone out there that looks at me in the same way.”
That humility runs deep. “I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I belong on the same level as those guys. Maybe that imposter syndrome keeps me humble.”
Cowley’s influence now stretches beyond the race walk course. He has served on Australian Athletics’ Athletes’ Advisory Committee and recently joined the Victorian Institute of Sport’s advisory group, determined to contribute to the sport’s future.
“Hopefully I can leave the sport in good shape, not just in terms of my performances but also off the field.”
As much as this milestone reflects the past, Cowley is not done yet. He laughs off the idea of slowing down.
“I can’t afford to slow down. There’s a great group of young walkers coming through and they’re definitely keeping me honest. It means I can’t rest of my laurels but that’s a good thing. It keeps me fresh.”
Tokyo may be his sixth, but Cowley walks with the hunger of a debutant and the wisdom of a veteran. It’s the balance that has carried him this far and what might make his greatest moment still to come.
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 6/9/2025
