Adam Spencer

Victorian 1500m runner Adam Spencer has shown talent in athletics from his primary school days where he had success winning state titles. Throughout high school, at Wesley College in Melbourne, he continued to achieve in athletics.

Over the 2021 Australian summer, between graduating from high school and commencing a finance degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States, Adam made a breakthrough over 1500m, running 3:39.94.

In his first year at college, in 2022, Adam again improved his personal bests over distances from 800m to the mile. But his 2023 campaign was stunning, as he sliced six seconds from his 1500m personal best, clocking 3:31.81 at the London Diamond League, to become the fourth-fastest Australian in history.

The performance earned him selection for the world championships in Budapest, where he was up to the challenge, progressing into the semi-final in his Australian team debut.

In 2024, fresh from a silver medal at the NCAA indoor championships, he was a surprise winner of the Australian 1500m title over a stacked field. Back in the US, he placed third in the NCAA outdoor 1500m.

At his Olympic debut in Paris, Adam placed eighth in his 1500m heat (3:37.48). The next day he competed in the repechage where he clocked a quick time of 3:34.45 when placing sixth. 

Adam considers his Melbourne coach, Tim O’Shaughnessy, and US coach Mick Byrne, as the people to have the biggest influence on his career. “Tim has taught me so much about discipline, sportsmanship, dedication and building a strong team culture,” he said.

He also has some advice for his younger self: “Be patience and keep working hard but also enjoy yourself. There will be times where things don’t go the way you want to, and you won’t be too sure why. The work you put in does not necessarily equate to instant results but if you keep chipping away, the results will eventually show. Also, enjoy yourself more. Running is a tough sport and we need some fun in our life otherwise it can make our lives miserable. Don’t take everything so seriously, especially as a kid.”