Michelle Jenneke And Her Pre-Race Dance Routine Are Back As She Wins Second National Title

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Hard to believe, but it has been 11 years since Australian hurdler Michelle Jenneke broke the internet with her pre-race warm-up dancing.

It was before the 100 meter hurdles race at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Barcelona in July 2012 when Michelle Jenneke first became a viral sensation.

That clip of her warmup routine ended up being viewed tens of millions of times, was featured on The Tonight Show, and ended up landing Michelle Jenneke a spot in the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Jenneke would go on to win the 2016 Australian National Championships in the 100 meter hurdles and compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

After competing in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, Michelle Jenneke wasn’t seen at a major track event again until the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

It was there, after that long layoff from top competition, that Jenneke posted her personal best in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 12.66.

Then, earlier this month, the 29-year-old popped off a 12.69 for her fastest time ever on Australian soil.

On Sunday, she made her return to the Australian track and field championships and walked away with her second national title.

“I’m really happy with that. I think that was my fifth World Championships qualifier and I got the win at nationals, so that means I’ll go to Budapest and that’s very exciting,” Jenneke said. “This is only my second national title. I competed for a long time against Sally Pearson so… a kind of a difficult one to beat. I think there is more in the tank though and we’ll see what we can do later on in the season.”

It’s Jenneke’s fifth win of the summer in Australia.

Much like John Wick, I’d say Michelle Jenneke is back.