Australian sprint star Rohan Browning WINS his 100m heat in sensational style - and fans go wild over his mullet hairstyle
Vowing to go faster, Australian sprint star Rohan Browning is gunning for 'finals and beyond' after scorching to a spectacular victory in his opening-round heat of the men's 100m at the Tokyo Olympics.
Browning clocked a personal-best 10.01 seconds to move to second spot on the Australian all-time list.
The only Aussie to have clocked a faster legal time was Patrick Johnson, who ran 9.93 back in 2003.
Sprint star Rohan Browning has won his opening-round 100m heat at the Tokyo Olympics in spectacular style and moved to second spot on the Australian all-time list
'There's more to pull out of myself. I can definitely be pushed a bit more,' Browning said after booking his place in the semi-final.
'It's the one thing I've probably been lacking on the Australian circuit. I've been patient this year.
'I've just been training and racing in Australia and I've been dying for a bit of world-class competition.'
Browning was out of the blocks quickly in lane one on Saturday and never looked like being beaten.
Browning left the likes of 2011 world champion Yohan Blake from Jamaica in his wake as he stopped the clock at 10.01 seconds
The 23-year-old from Sydney left the likes of 2011 world champion Yohan Blake from Jamaica trailing in his wake.
'It feels good to take a few scalps early on,' Browning said.
'I've wanted to get him for a long time. All the world's best guys are on my hit-list.
'When you're in lane one, you don't get a personalised introduction and I was definitely trying to harness a bit of that underdog spirit today.
'I doubt any of these guys would have any idea who I am.'
No Australian man has qualified for an Olympic 100m final since Hec Hogan won bronze in Melbourne in 1956, a feat now well within Browning's reach if he can replicate this run in the semis on Sunday.
Rohan Browning, left, of Australia, leads the field in his heat of the men's 100-meters
'I've been dying for a bit of world-class competition so that's what I was looking forward to today,' Browning told the Seven Network.
'I had a look at the start list when the heats came out and I thought 'geez I've got one of the stiffest heats'.
'But you'd rather do it the hard way because it's much more satisfying that way and you've got to front up to everyone at some point.'
The semi-finals will begin at 8.15pm on Sunday night, and the final race will take place at 10.50pm.
'Without a doubt, finals and beyond,' Browning said about his ambitions in a post race interview.
The only Australian to have clocked a faster legal time was Patrick Johnson, who ran 9.93 back in 2003
'There are a lot of media pundits who are writing up really well-meaning stories about how great it would be for me to make the finals, but you know I've never been here just to make the final.
'No matter what the bookies say, the pundits, the punters. I hope there are a few more believers tonight'.
Browning was the equal fifth fastest qualifier for Sunday's semis, with Canadian Andre de Grasse topping the timesheets with 9.91.
His electrifying performance was hailed on social media, but some fans were more impressed with Browning's mullet hairstyle.
'The win was almost as great as your haircut,' wrote one viewer while congratulating Browning.
'Rohan Browning won because his mullet was so aerodynamic,' joked another.
Browning's electrifying performance was hailed on social media, but some fans were more impressed with the sprinter's mullet hairstyle
2011 world champion Yohan Blake looked incredibly shocked to be beaten by Australia's new sprinting hero, Rohan Browning
The second fastest man in history was left visibly shocked after being beaten by an Aussie.
Yohan Blake is considered one of the top contenders for a medal in the 100 metre sprint but was clearly surprised to be beaten by the young Aussie.
'Yohan Blake has looked across and you know what he's thought, 'Who is that in lane one? I've been beaten by an Australian'! Yes, you have Yohan Blake,' Tamsyn Manou said in Channel 7 coverage.
An Aussie also defied the odds in the mens discus athlete, Matthew Denny came agonisingly close to a bronze medal.
Denny threw a personal best, with a mammoth 67.02, falling 5 centimetres short of Austria's Lukas Weisshaidinger.
Australia's mens basketball team have gone through the group stages undefeated after beating Germany 89-76.
Patty Mills starred for the Boomers, scoring 24 points to lead the side into the quarter finals.
Patty Mills (pictured middle) was dominant for the Boomers scoring 24 points and the side remained undefeated throughout the preliminary games
They will find out who they come up against for their finals match-up after Sunday's final round of preliminary games.
Ash Barty has had some glory at the Tokyo games, winning Bronze in the mixed double's with her partner John Peers.
They were expecting a match-up against superstar a Serbia duo including Novak Djokovic but he pulled out injured.
In boxing, Australia's Harry Garside beat No. 2 seed Jonas Jonas from Namibia to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
The 24 year old won the bout in a unanimous decision.
The Hockeyroos are unbeaten after five pool games and will play the fourth ranked nation from Group A.
Ireland or India look to be the teams in contention to take on the in-form side.
Australia's mixed doubles pair of Ash Barty and John Peers easily claimed a bronze medal after superstar Novak Djokovic pulled out of the clash against Serbia