Peter Bol says there is a single, simple reason why his running has drastically improved.
“I have been running so much better just by being happier and seeing a different perspective on life,” the Sudanese-Australian athlete says. “I always say a happy runner is a performing runner, and she brings me so much joy.”
That “she” is baby Reyna, born last year to Bol and his Ethiopian-born fiancee, Mahtut Yaynu.
Bol became famous in the lead-up to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, coming fourth in the 800m final by a split second.
In January 2023 his life was thrown into turmoil when he was provisionally suspended by Athletics Australia after failing an out-of-competition doping test. He was later officially cleared, but he failed to qualify for the 800m final in Paris last year.
“There’s a lot more joy in life. I thought I had all the joy I needed before, but this was pretty special,” Bol said, speaking before lunch at the Ralph Lauren marquee.
“I want to be hands-on with my daughter. I am waking up in the morning and doing everything with purpose.”
The middle distance runner, who grew up in Western Australia, aims to race at the Adelaide Invitational next month ahead of the World Championships in late September in Tokyo, where, yes, Bol plans to take his family along for the ride.
STORY BY – STEPHEN BROOK & CARA WATERS (THE AGE)