In a move set to reshape the landscape of Australian sprinting, record-breaking speedster Eddie Osei-Nketia has officially changed his international allegiance from New Zealand to Australia.
A Major Coup for Australian Athletics
The 24-year-old sprinter, who holds the New Zealand national records for both the 100m and 200m, has successfully completed his transfer of allegiance. Osei-Nketia clocked a personal best of 10.08 seconds in the 100m at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, breaking a record previously held by his father, Gus Nketia. Earlier this year in Texas, he also recorded a wind-assisted time of 9.96 seconds.
Athletics Australia (AA) celebrated the news on social media, posting: "Welcome, Edward Osei-Nketia. He has been lighting up Australian tracks for years but is now officially eligible to represent Australia on the world stage." The governing body added, "The 10.08-second man joins the nation's rising sprinting stocks. This is going to be fun."
Canberra Roots and Olympic Ambitions
Osei-Nketia spent eight formative years based in Canberra as a schoolboy and has long been a regular competitor on the Australian domestic circuit. Despite being based in the United States, where he briefly tried American football before recommitting to track with the University of Southern California in 2024, his connection to Australia has remained strong.
In a statement, the spriter outlined clear goals for his future in the green and gold. "My goal with Australia is to break both the 100m and 200m record and also help the relay team to not just make the finals, (but) also to earn a medal on the big stage," Osei-Nketia said. He emphasised his commitment to all major events, including the Commonwealth Games, world championships, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Supercharging Australia's Relay Hopes
Osei-Nketia's switch comes at a pivotal time for Australian sprinting. Athletics Australia has invested heavily in its relay programs in recent years, a strategy that paid off with all five teams qualifying for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. That squad included Osei-Nketia's younger brother, Augustine Nketia junior, in the 4x400m.
The emergence of young talents like teen sensation Gout Gout and sub-10-second sprinter Lachie Kennedy had already raised hopes that Australia could challenge for medals in the men's 4x100m relay at future global events. The addition of an athlete of Osei-Nketia's calibre, at his peak, transforms the team into a genuine podium contender.
His experience and raw speed provide a missing piece for a relay squad with soaring ambitions. The move signals Australia's serious intent to not just participate, but to compete for medals on athletics' biggest stages, starting with the LA Games in 2028.
