Browning set to unveil streamlined, mullet-free look
A leaner and mullet-free Rohan Browning is in the shape of his life before the start of his Paris Olympics campaign.
Australia’s fastest man will unveil the new streamlined look when he races in the 100m and 200m at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on Thursday night.
Browning has adjusted his diet to drop 2kg and also his view of what is required to be one of the world’s best sprinters.
“I remember growing up in high school and you always wanted to be that kid who wanted to be the most athletic, the strongest ... being a 15-yearold going through that bodybuilder phase,” Browning said.
“At the time, all the top sprinters were big guys with big shoulders, muscle-bound. I don’t think that’s the method that you need.
“Certainly now the body types are a lot more diverse with shorter guys, leaner guys.”
The Olympic 100m semi-finalist – he ran a career-best 10.01 seconds to win his heat in Tokyo – is down to 77kg, which he says is “nice and sustainable” and has allowed him to have a quality training load.
“I do feel lighter and faster,” Browning said.
“I think that’s also been a peripheral point to getting in some really good training.
“If you’re training well and you have enough volume, the weight falls off you.
“I’m the strongest I’ve ever been; all my training data suggests I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been. The key thing is, can you do it when it counts, in competition?
“I’ve been trying to work on that mental side. Last year I was very technically-oriented all the time.
“You can’t go into a race thinking, ‘Load the back foot, make sure you have a cocked arm, dorsiflex (bend) the left foot’ ... it’s just too much.
“You can’t focus on those fine motor skills when you’re trying to massively exert power so this year I’m trying to keep it really simple. Get out and get into the spirit of competing and enjoy it.”
Browning, 26, has welcomed sharing the sprinting limelight with the newly crowned Australia’s fastest woman, Torrie Lewis, who will also do the sprint double in Melbourne.
They have chatted briefly and Browning is as excited as anyone about the 19-year-old’s potential, though he had a word of caution.
“Torrie is a great upcoming talent, she’s young and to break the national record is really strong,” he said. “She’s in a really good position to develop over the long term.
“In this sport, it takes a long time. I’m in my 10th year of being a full-time athlete, training six days a week, totally devoted to the sport and I feel that I’m just getting to reap the benefits.”
As for the famous mullet that captured the attention of the Australian public after his Tokyo heroics, Browning said it wouldn’t be coming back.
There won’t be any other dramatic hair changes, either.
“I got a buzzcut once and my mum was horrified, so I’m never doing that again,” Browning said.