Olympic hurdler Willis ready to rumble at Adelaide Invitational

From social media to the Olympic stage, Tayleb Willis craves fanfare. Australia’s third-fastest hurdler in history is giving little away ahead of the Adelaide Invitational but makes one promise – a show you don’t want to miss.

The man with over 600,000 followers on TikTok now has the Olympic credentials to match his fame after a breakthrough year saw him land in Paris, only fuelling the fire for 2025 where he will open his season in Adelaide on February 15.

“I sat down with my team and looked over the Olympic races and we tried to figure out how we can improve by technical changes and speed work. We have implemented those things in training and Adelaide is a chance for me to execute,” Willis said.

“Every time I step on the track, my promise is that I’m ready to go and I will put on a show. I’m going to have fun and do me every time. I won’t give away any more than that!”

The flamboyant Australian who owns a 13.44-second personal best in the 110m Hurdles won’t have it all his own way when clashing with domestic rivals Jacob McCorry (Alex Stewart) and Mitchell Lightfoot (Alex Stewart), who have raced to times of 13.48 and 13.65 respectively.

“The depth in Australian hurdling has definitely improved and I like that because it pushes me to be even better so that I can stand out,” Willis said.

The showdown is not confined to Australian talent with the Adelaide Invitational’s status as a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze level meeting attracting Chinese Taipei’s Kuei-Rue Chen (13.34), Japan’s Nishi Tetsuro (13.57), and Brazil’s Lucas Henrique de Souza (13.79) – making it a truly international affair.

With a coaching team consisting of national record holder Kyle Vander-Kuyp and Sam Leslie, while Olympic silver medallist John Steffenson sits in his corner as a mentor – Willis is confident he has all the tools he needs to reach even greater heights in his athletic career.

“Kyle and I got a lot closer from sharing the Olympic experience and we are already looking at the path to Brisbane in 2032. He has a mind of gold from his generation because they definitely did a lot right back then that people don’t do these days,” Willis said.

“Anything I set my mind to, I believe I can get it done because that’s the type of man I am. I’ve got big goals for this year and am ready to make them happen.”

Describing the Olympic Games as “the best experience” of his life, Willis is ready to take the next step which begins in Adelaide as he launches towards the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan this September.

“The fans are my main motivation. I have always wanted to inspire the next generation of athletes; it pushes me so much harder. I know that the harder I work, the more interaction I will get and the more people who will come and watch me run,” Willis said.

“My goal has always been to make the Olympics, but now it’s to better myself. Obviously you want to be in the World Championships final, then down to medals and eventually win. My goals have always been high but I definitely believe I can achieve the things I set out for.”

The Adelaide Invitational will be held at SA Athletics Stadium on February 15, with tickets available for purchase HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
31/1/2025