Steffensen - In John We Trust

Australia’s new superstar of the track, John Steffensen, has the all-conquering American team in his sights after he crushed a near world class field to win the men’s 400m tonight at the MCG.

A lucky addition to Australia’s silver medal-winning 4x400m relay team in Athens and last in the 400m final at the world championships last year, Steffensen has declared he’s gunning for the US, led by Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner.

“From now, my coach and I will go back to the drawing board and set out our goals. Right now it looks like trying to beat the Yanks in Osaka next year in Japan,” he said.

“The world is the next step, that’s what I’m aiming for; I’m not here to play around. If I wanted to do this for fun I’d go take up golf or something. This is hard stuff. Whatever I put my mind to, I want to be the best.”

The nation has been waiting for the defining moment of these Games; the one that would capture the imagination and truly unite the country. Not many seriously thought it would arrive tonight, but the big-talking Steffensen- a curious mix of bravado and humility- delivered.

“I know people were just waiting for something, for someone to do something, I could see that when I was walking around the stadium. I want to be that runner for my nation, that when I step on the track: in John we trust.

“I’m just so happy for my country. I’m truly appreciative for this opportunity. I thank everybody who supported me and the ones who believed and the ones who didn’t believe. You have to come along for the ride now.”

It’s a ride that sure to be filled with excitement, particularly if this evening’s race is any indicator.

Holding his position through 200m despite pre-race favourite Alleyne Francique’s early progress to the lead, Steffensen waited until the last bend to exert himself on the final. He powered through the turn and emerged into the straight in front, as the stadium rose as one to bring the Aussie home.

“I was in a world of pain, the roar of the crowd, I didn’t know whether people were catching me or if I was pulling away. I just wanted the straight to finish and as the line got closer and no one was around me, I was just speechless, I just wanted to collapse,” he said.

And that he did, lying on the ground at the end of the track, arms aloft momentarily, in a scene somewhat reminiscent of Cathy Freeman in 2000.

However, what followed was most definitely un-Cathy-like, as the showman in Steffensen took over, and the adoring crowd was treated to a grand display of muscle-flexing and twinkle-toes dance moves.

But far from an exhibition of arrogance, the demonstration was merely the celebration of a long journey to the gold medal, based on faith and conviction in one’s own ability. It’s a story that he hopes will inspire others to achieve great things.

“When you know how much hard work you’ve put in, that’s all I was saying, you know, I wasn’t trying to sell you a dream, or tell you something I didn’t believe I could do. I trained my arse off,” he said.

“I’m just a simple human being man, I just happen to do this a lot better than most people. It doesn’t mean I’m any different to anybody else and hopefully people can see the belief I have in myself and take it along with them and use it to help better their lives.

“Hopefully Australia can party tonight. To all the people out there who have really supported me and they know who they are: we did it baby!”

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