Michelle Jenneke rose to fame in 2012 when a video of her sexy pre-race dance went viral on YouTube, amassing more than 25 million hits.
Yet the 21-year-old is more than just a gimmick and could challenge for medals in the 100-metre hurdles at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
She has history and form, having won gold at the 2010 Australian Junior Championships, grabbing silver at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and finishing third at the 89th Australian Athletics Championships in 2011.
What am I competing in?
Jenneke will compete in the 100-metre hurdles.
Who’s my competition?
Compatriot Sally Pearson will be her major rival, yet that won’t faze Jenneke. She will also have to contend with Britain’s Tiffany Porter.
Form heading into the Games
Jenneke’s personal best in the 100-metre hurdles of 13.23 seconds is still well behind that of her rivals, but she’s an up-and-comer and recorded that time earlier this year.
Commonwealth Games history
This will be Jenneke’s first appearance at the Commonwealth Games.
Why should Aussies get behind me?
While most people will recognise Jenneke for her pre-race dance, the youngster is also a bright talent for Australia.
Determined and driven, Jenneke will look to impress at the Commonwealth Games and is aiming to compete in the Olympic Games in the future.
Yet her big break came during the IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships in Barcelona in 2012, when cameras captured her unique warm-up dance in all its glory.
It’s a cheeky dance, featuring swinging hips, a beaming smile, energetic hops and some kind of finger-waving manoeuver.
The crowd will be watching out for her, and so should Australian viewers watching from the comfort of their couch.
And as for Jenneke’s thoughts on the dance?
“It’s how I get myself pumped up before I race and I don’t think I could race without it, it just happens naturally,” she said.
“I was surprised at the reaction. It’s a bit of a mental thing, the bigger the race the more I get into it.”
Fast facts
– Jenneke acted in short comedic video called “Forever Alone Meets Michelle Jenneke”, which plays on her pre-race ritual
– Her hobbies include Australian Rules, football and handball
– She has released her own smartphone application, designed to help Australians take care of their bodies before, during and after sport.
– Jenneke has more than 26,000 Twitter followers, though she has only tweeted less than 400 times. A page bearing her name has also accumulated over 180,000 ‘likes’.
– She featured in the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
This article was first published on the Tenplay website here.
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