She’s the young hurdler who set the internet alight for her energetic warm-up dance.
But Australian athlete Michelle Jenneke has revealed she wants to be known for more than just her signature ‘jiggling’ routine.
The then-19-year-old quickly shot to fame after her bubbly dance at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona in 2012 went viral.
Speaking to Stella Magazine, the now-24-year-old, from Sydney, said her pre-race routine actually helps her get into a ‘good physical and mental space’.
Australian athlete Michelle Jenneke (pictured) has revealed she wants to be known for more than just her signature ‘jiggling’ routine
The then-19-year-old quickly shot to fame after her bubbly dance at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona in 2012 went viral
Jenneke said her warm-up dance attracted criticism after she was bombed out of the opening round of the 100m hurdles heat at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
‘People can be very quick to build you up and then cut you down, but they don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. All they see is when you get out there on that track. A range of factors go on that affect performance,’ she said.
‘People think that by doing my dance I’m trying to draw attention to myself. I’m not. It’s just what I do when I’m on the start line. I’m not going to change who I am or what I’m doing because people view it one way or another.
‘I know that when I get out there I’m doing my best. If I’m happy with myself and my preparation, then I try not to let what other people say faze me.’
The now-24-year-old, from Sydney, said her pre-race routine actually helps her get into a ‘good physical and mental space’
Jenneke said her warm-up dance attracted criticism after she was bombed out of the opening round of the 100m hurdles heat at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Her remarks comes after Jenneke was named the face of Coca Cola’s Rio campaign alongside Jamaican Kemar Bailey-Cole last year.
Her Olympic dreams were shattered when she was eliminated after she trailed home sixth in her 100m hurdles heat in Rio de Janeiro in 13.26 seconds.
After the race Jenneke said she was disappointed with ‘one of the worst races I’ve ever done’, saying she’s been struggling with nerve pain for two weeks.
‘I’ve been on the table every day sorting that out,’ Jenneke said.
‘But unfortunately I felt it grab on hurdle two.
‘I tried to push past it but just couldn’t get the same drive off my leg I wanted to.’
However, she admitted she should have run faster but didn’t.