Why Perth product Sasha Zhoya switched his allegiances from Australia to France for Paris Olympics

An athletics prodigy. A generational talent in Australia. The next greatest showman.

Sasha Zhoya has been described as many things.

The Perth-born sprinting sensation broke junior world records in pole vault and hurdles.

He grew up idolising Usain Bolt and now the 21-year old will stop at nothing to emulate the feats of the Jamaican superstar.

The problem is Zhoya runs for France.

Raised in Perth by a French mum and a Zimbabwean dad, Zhoya switched allegiances in 2020, partly in a bid to compete for France at this year’s Paris Olympics.

“There was a big part of me that wanted to represent my grandma and mum and have them at the Olympics watching me,” Zhoya told ABC Sport.

“I’m a guy with three nationalities and I wanted to still show that I have that so I thought it’d be a good idea to put the French flag on.”

Australian athletics was desperate to hang on to Zhoya, with the Western Australian Institute of Sport expressing their disappointment at his defection.

There was reportedly aggressive behind-the-scenes lobbying in Australia while the French courted Zhoya.

The attraction of top-tier European athletics and prospect of a home Olympics was too great.

“I don’t think there was more that Australia could have done,” Zhoya explained.

“I had to base myself in a place of the highest level of competition.”

Zhoya is now back in Australia to compete for the first time since swapping flags permanently. He’ll compete in the 110m hurdles at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on Thursday.

“(I’m) a little bit nervous because when I left there was a bit of tension,” Zhoya said.

“I feel like the tension has gone down.

“Even if I am a French athlete now I still feel Australian.”

Zhoya had been visiting his native Perth and confesses to missing Australian culture, its beaches and accents, and hanging with his mates.

A poster boy for Paris

Zhoya is young, confident and charismatic. Global sponsors are scrambling to sign him.

His popularity has grown in France as the nation prepares to host the Games.

“He’s coming with Australian culture in France – it’s really good vibes,” explained Benjamin Soreau, Zhoya’s manager.

“Sasha is the coolest guy in track and field in France.”

Zhoya blitzed junior ranks and has impressed in his transition to senior competition, running a personal best 13.15 seconds in the hurdles at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.

But the French are strong in both hurdles and pole vault, with Olympic champions in both events.

Soreau believes that in time Zhoya will break world records but insists there is no rush for him to become the next superstar.

“For France it’s a big potential,” Soreau said.

“Everybody would like to see Sasha on the podium in the Paris Olympics for sure but… we will see.”

“He must take the time and have fun. No pressure.

‘I want to collect medals’

Zhoya has always been driven to succeed and is laser-focused on reaching the pinnacle of world athletics.

“That’s the only thing that I dream of … when I’m training, when I’m competing,” Zhoya said.

“I want to be that number one athlete.”

He’s quick to brush off the ‘superstar’ tag.

“I don’t see myself like that,” he grinned.

“I’m just a bloke running hurdles. I was doing this for fun when I started and I am still doing it for fun.”

It’s no surprise Bolt remains Zhoya’s hero to this day.

“I love his energy,” Zhoya explained.

“I love that he looked so relaxed doing what he did and he had fun doing it.”

“I think it’s really important to have fun doing your sport – this is still a hobby for me.

“I look up to (Bolt) because I always want to be that type of character and have that vibe when I’m on the track, even if it is the highest level of competition.”