Rhydian Cowley (athletics) finished 8th at his second Commonwealth Games at Birmingham in 2022 where race walks were held on the track over the 10,000m distance.

A regular on national teams since his international debut at the 2008 World Race Walking Cup, Rhydian was encouraged to join Little Athletics aged eight by his father and quickly progressed to the senior ranks.

Finishing 33rd in the 20km at his debut Olympics in Rio in 2016 (1:23:30) and 11th at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (1:26:12), Cowley searched for another gear and found it working under former racewalker Brent Vallance. He qualified for his second Olympic Games in Tokyo where he finished 8th in the 50km in 3:52:01.

2024 proved a stellar year. He set PBs in the 20km (1:18:33), 10,000m (38:13:51) and 35km (2:26:25) ahead of his third Olympics in Paris, where he and Jemima Montag created history by winning bronze in the inaugural Olympic marathon race walk relay. He also finished 12th in the 20km.

Cowley has also competed at five world championships since 2013.

Having completed a double degree in Arts (History) and Commerce (Economics) at Deakin University, Cowley works as an Administration Officer at Bush Heritage Australia. He is also an ambassador for EcoAthletes, a group ‘equipping climate-curious athletes to become climate leaders.’