Meet Eddie Nketia: the sprinter challenging Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy in the race to become Australia’s fastest man

“At the end of the day, whoever gets that record first will be the king of sprinting in Australia,” Eddie Nketia told The Final Leg podcast just two weeks ago.

Now, the 25-year-old has made the strongest claim to the title yet.

The tantalising 100m Australian record of 9.93 seconds, set by Patrick Johnson in Perth in 2003, is being hunted down by a golden generation.

18-year-old Gout Gout and 22-year-old Lachlan Kennedy have become household names in the pursuit, with the hopes of a nation lying on their shoulders.

But the past months have seen the undeniable emergence of another challenger: Eddie Nketia.

While high tailwinds in his fastest two races mean his marks won’t count in the official record books, Nketia’s latest 100m time of 9.74 seconds at the Big Ten Championships in Nebraska on 17 May was the fastest all-conditions time by an Australian.

It marked the second occasion in two months that the 25-year-old has gone under 10 seconds, having run 9.84 at a college meet in April.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about Australia’s Eddie Nketia.

Eddie Nketia: the new contender for Australian sprinting greatness

Born to a father who represented New Zealand at the Olympics and having grown up between New Zealand and Australia, Nketia’s electric start to the 2026 season is proof he is just getting into his stride.

“It shows I’m getting better and can see the progress, and the season isn’t over yet,” he told reporters after setting the all-conditions Australian record.

“I’m really hoping this season on the back of that to get a legal PB (personal best) and show I can compete. I really want that actual record. When I get out of college, I’m looking forward to competing everywhere, including hopefully Europe this year.”

As a child, Auckland-born Nketia dreamed about playing rugby for the All Blacks. Having been partly raised in Canberra, he returned to Wellington to finish school.

Up until December 2025, Nketia represented New Zealand in athletics. In Kiwi colours, he went to the World Athletics Championships in Doha 2019 as the holder of the national 100m title at just 18, agonisingly missing out on a place in the semi-final by 0.01 seconds. He went on to represent his nation at a second World Championships, in Oregon in 2022.

After a spell as an American Football wide receiver at the University of Hawaii, he decided his ambitions still lay on the track. He transferred to the University of Southern California after receiving an athletics scholarship.

Eddie Nketia’s sprinting heritage

Speed is in the bloodstream of the Nketia family.

Nketia’s father, Gus, held the record for New Zealand’s fastest 100m (10.11s) for 28 years until his son knocked off 0.03s in 2022, with the help of his dad’s coaching.

Eddie’s younger brother, Augustine Nketia Junior, is a 400m runner who is also coached by their father. Both brothers have the enviable position of being raised by an Olympian; Gus represented New Zealand in the 100m at Atlanta 1996.

“Having a coach and a father who has been at the Olympics is the biggest advantage out there,” Eddie told The Final Leg. “It feels like I’m ahead of the game.”

Click here to read article