Source : ABC NEWS
The Ashes has long lived on cricket pitches and rugby league fields, but now the rivalry has found an unlikely new arena — the throwing circle.
Australia’s Matt Denny and England’s Lawrence Okoye are fierce opponents in major athletics championships around the world, but the discus competitors are also equally committed training partners in Brisbane.
In a sport that can often feel solitary, they’ve built something rare — a high-performance partnership.
“Denny just challenged me to come out here. He just said, ‘Hey, just come out,'” said Okoye, England’s discus record holder.
“I came out for about six weeks and it was a really productive period for me and we both derived a lot of benefit from it.
“Even though you do try as hard as you can [in training], that extra extrinsic motivation, of having someone throwing far, next to you, just brings something out of you that you can’t do on your own.”
From what started as a short stint years ago has now become an annual migration for Okoye.
It’s paying dividends for both athletes as they target a busy calendar year, in including the 2026 Commonwealth Games and this weekend’s Adelaide Invitational.
This is their third summer training together training at the purpose-built National Throws Centre of Excellence, located at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre.
Brisbane base
Okoye says Brisbane has become a home away from home for him. (ABC: Curtis Rodda)
For the 34-year-old Okoye the opportunity to trade grey English skies for Brisbane sunshine was too hard to ignore.
Queensland offered what most elite athletes crave — reliable warm weather, uninterrupted training cycles and access to elite facilities.
And as the River City prepares to host an Olympics in 2032, Okoye suspects he won’t be the only international athlete opting for a temporary Brisbane postcode.
“When you’re training, you want to remove as many barriers as possible to doing your best at training,” said Okoye, who also spent time as an American footballer in the NFL between 2013-2017.
“This time of the year, in the northern hemisphere, this is our winter.
“So if you’re training in the US up north, or if you’re training in Europe, then you’re dealing with horrible conditions, snow, ice, rain, cold and none of that is conducive to high performance.
“I feel like [Brisbane] is kind of a home away from home for me.”
Stronger than ever
Denny (left) and Okoye (right) have become each other’s training partners in Brisbane. (ABC: Curtis Rodda)
The pair are hitting personal bests in the gym, launching discus further than ever and lifting each other to new standards in a profession that can so often become dangerously lonely.
“I definitely notice my level always raises,” Denny said.
“We’re pretty boisterous and you know get after sessions, but there was just one session in particular recently, where it’s really kicked things off.
“I threw well, and then Lawrence threw well, and then we just kind of really egged each other on to try let’s see how far we can roll this ball, and it’s still rolling today.
“It definitely makes the flat times more enjoyable too [having someone there].”
But through it all the banter never stops — especially when it comes to cricket.
“[During the Ashes] I could come into the gym and absolutely sledge him that we’re up and really talk about ethics and morals in the game,” laughed Denny.
“We had a tough summer for sure,” replied Okoye.
Rivalry reignited
Denny won the discus throw gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games before following it up with an Olympic bronze in Paris. (Getty Images: Michael Steele)
In just a few months, the mateship will momentarily step aside at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Their history on this particular global sporting stage, is already compelling.
In 2022 at Birmingham, Denny threw a personal best of 67.26 metres to claim the gold medal, finishing ahead of Okoye who won silver with a throw of 64.99 metres.
The pair famously went viral for an interview post event when Denny was discussing breaking through for his maiden major senior title, and Okoye gate crashed the chat jokingly screaming “f**k this guy … Matt Denny!”
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Glasgow promises a rematch years in the making and Okoye is out for revenge.
“Last time [Denny] kind of spanked me, to be honest,” Okoye said.
“I feel like since then, I’ve progressed a lot, and I think he’d recognise that as well.
“Denny’s done so well in the last five years and we’ve all taken a lot of heart and inspiration from it.
“But it’s up to us to take it. He’s not going to give it away. I can promise you that, he’s definitely going to bring his best on the day.
“If I want to win, I’ve got to bring my best and then nothing short will get it done.“
Denny, who believes he will find another gear when representing Australia for the first time as a father after welcoming son Roman in December, insists there’s no weight of expectation to defend his title.
“I fully trust my ability. I think it’s just more accountability on throwing what I’m capable of,” he said.
“Because I know if I do that, then that will most likely end in a win.
“And if I throw 72 metres and Lawrence beats me with a 72.1, that’s how it rolls. And that’s happened to me before and I’m not a fan of it, but that’s just how the dice roll sometimes.
“We’ve had a one or two comps where there’s just been this flow of we’re both throwing well, it’s a back and forth, it’s enjoyable.
“I think it’d be really nice for Comm Games to be that, to be able to push, go over the Games record, be super competitive, and to have that back and forth between each other as training partners as well.”
If the title was to change hands, Denny conceded he’d be happy for his good mate, even if it’s quietly tearing him up inside.
“I wouldn’t rather lose to anyone else. I’d prefer it to be Lawrence, but at the same time, I’d rather win it, of course,” Denny declared.
“I want to win, and I want [Denny] to come second by one centimetre,” Okoye jokingly replied.
