Aussie and British Discus Rivals Train Together in Brisbane

Two elite discus throwers from rival nations are rewriting the playbook on competition by choosing to train together instead of apart.

Australian Matt Denny and Englishman Lawrence Okoye face off at major championships around the world, but for three summers now, they've spent months training side by side at Brisbane's National Throws Centre of Excellence. What started as a six-week experiment has become an annual tradition that's pushing both athletes to personal bests.

"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," said Okoye, England's discus record holder. The 34-year-old trades grey English winters for Brisbane sunshine each year, gaining access to elite facilities and uninterrupted training in perfect weather.

For Denny, the partnership has been equally transformative. "I definitely notice my level always raises," he said. "We had one session recently where I threw well, then Lawrence threw well, and we just kept egging each other on to see how far we could roll this ball."

The pair are hitting personal bests in the gym and launching discus further than ever. In a sport that can feel dangerously lonely, they've created something special: a friendship that makes both the hard sessions and the flat days more bearable.

The banter never stops, especially during Ashes cricket season. "I could come into the gym and absolutely sledge him that we're up and really talk about ethics and morals in the game," Denny laughed.

Why This Inspires

Their story challenges the idea that competitors must train in isolation to succeed. By sharing knowledge, pushing each other daily, and celebrating each other's progress, they're proving that collaboration can coexist with competition.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Denny threw a personal best to claim gold while Okoye took silver. In a now-viral moment, Okoye photobombed Denny's victory interview, jokingly screaming his frustration before breaking into laughter and hugs.

This March, they'll face off again at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Okoye wants revenge after getting "spanked" last time, while Denny, now competing as a father for the first time after welcoming son Roman in December, trusts his ability to defend his title.

"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," Denny said. If Okoye were to win, Denny admits he'd be happy for his mate, even if it quietly tears him up inside.

As Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympics, Okoye suspects more international athletes will discover what he already knows: sometimes the best training partner is the person trying to beat you.