THE BIGGEST EVENT on the world’s quadrennial sporting calendar is rapidly approaching. From July 26th, more than 10,000 of the world’s premier athletes will compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris – and Australians make up a decent chunk of those vying for medals. Australia sent 486 Olympians to the last Summer Games in Tokyo, and this time around, the team features some of the biggest names in sport.
As one of the most successful Olympic nations, competition for places in the Australian Olympic team is stiff. Gold medal hopes are both born and sunk during the trials and qualification stages, but that level of competitiveness is part of what makes Australia such a consistent force on the world’s stage.
At this stage in the Olympic cycle, anticipation is approaching its pinnacle and nearly every day is heralded by the announcement of another athlete making Australia Olympic team – to such an extent that it can be difficult to keep up with all the news. To remedy that problem, consider this your one-stop shop for all the latest on who’s made or missed the cut.
We now know the tennis stars taking the court at Roland Garros
It has been a massive year for Alex de Minaur, having climbed as high as seventh in the ATP rankings and reaching the quarterfinals at the French Open. Now he’ll return to Roland Garros with a shot at an Olympic gold medal – and few would be willing to write off his chances. Joining him in singles competitions will be Rinky Hijikata and Alexei Popyrin in the men’s, and Ajla Tomljanovic in the women’s.
Also on the tennis team for the doubles tournaments is Matthew Ebden, John Peers, Ellen Perez and Daria Saville.
Olympic men’s golfers set after US Open
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For the men’s golfers battling for qualification at the 2024 Olympics, the US Open presented one final chance to boost their ranking and earn a guaranteed place. With no golfers ranked inside the top 15 of the men’s world rankings, only the two highest ranked Australians can qualify for Paris 2024, with the US Open serving as the cut-off point for qualification. With the US Open concluding this morning, the two highest ranked Australia men are Jason Day and Min Woo Lee, ranked 21st and 36th in the world, meaning they will be the first choice Olympians for Paris. Big names like Adam Scott, Cameron Smith and Cameron Davis all missed out.
The Aussie divers vying for gold in Paris have been named
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Melissa Wu will dive at a historic fifth Olympic Games, becoming the first Australian diver to accomplish the feat. Joining her on the Australia diving contingent are four debutants in Jaxon Bowshire, Ellie Cole, Alysha Koloi and Kurtis Mathews, as well as multi-time Olympians Domonic Bedggood, Maddison Keeney, Anabelle Smith and Cassiel Rousseau. It is Rousseau who has the best shot at a gold medal of any Australian, having won gold at the 2023 world championships in the 10m platform event.
Dolphins announce full swim team for 2024 Olympics
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Fresh off the conclusion of the Australian swimming trials, the Australian swim team (otherwise known as the Dolphins) has named a 41-strong pool line-up for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Former gold medallists abound, with Kyle Chalmers, Emma McKeon, Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown, Bronte Campbell and Zac Stubblety-Cook all named to the team, along with 22 Olympic first-timers.
The Dolphins set a historic medal tally at Tokyo 2020, with a team record 21 medals. Of course, the unspoken goal at any Olympic swimming meet is to topple Australia’s trans-Pacific neighbours, the USA. If lead up competitions and recent world championships are any indication, the Dolphins have a solid chance of accomplishing that colossal task.
Cam McEvoy puts world on notice, Max Giuliani announces himself, and world record tumbles at Australian swimming trials
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It’s been a busy couple of days at the Australian swimming trials, with medal hopefuls securing their place at the Olympics and world records obliterated. On Tuesday night, 20-year-old Tasmanian Max Giuliani booked a spot at his maiden Olympics by winning the 200m freestyle in a time of 1:45.83. In the 50m freestyle, Cameron McEvoy continued his late career renaissance. Surging to victory in a blistering time of just 21.35 seconds, the reigning world champion is in career-best form at 30 years of age – which isn’t just uncommon among short distance swimmers, it’s practically unheard of.
The highlight of the swimming trials so far came on Wednesday night, when a highly anticipated duel between Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan in the 200m freestyle came to a head. The matchup delivered on its promise of being one of the most hotly contested swims of the meet, with both Titmus and O’Callaghan finishing faster than the previous world record – which was held by O’Callaghan. Ultimately, it was Titmus who reigned supreme with a time of 1:52.23. To grasp how fast Titmus and O’Callaghan were, you need only to have seen the gap between them and the other swimmers in the race – despite six competitors finishing under the Olympic standard time. It’s safe to say that Australia will be the red-hot favourites to win the 4x200m freestyle relay in Paris in just over a month’s time.
The Australian swimming trials will continue until June 15. Come back here for updates on the full swim squad.
First wave of Olympic swimmers secure selection at Australian swimming trials
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Nine swimmers have booked their place at the Olympics after the opening day of the 2024 Australian swimming trials. Arguably the fiercest selection meet in Australian sport, to make the Australian Olympic team, swimmers not only need to finish in the top two of their event at the trials, they also need to swim faster than the qualifying time set by Swimming Australia, which is often even faster than the Olympic standard.
Say what you will about the unforgiving nature of the Australian swimming trials, you can’t argue with their effectiveness. The trials create Olympic champions, and after day one of the competition, nine swimmers have secured their place in Paris.
Ariarne Titmus will get her chance to defend her gold medal in the 400m freestyle after winning her trial, falling just 0.06 seconds short of breaking her own world record in the event. Lani Pallister will head to her second Olympics after finishing second behind Titmus and under the qualifying benchmark.
In the men’s 400m freestyle, Elijah Winnington and Sam Short both secured qualification. Winnington’s time of 3:43:26 would have been enough to win gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and he’ll be won of the favourites to take out the top honour in Paris.
Elsewhere, Australia’s most successful Olympian of all time, Emma McKeon, ensured she’ll get a shot at increasing her record-breaking tally of 11 medals by winning the 100m butterfly. Sam Williamson and Joshua Yong were one and two in the 100m breaststroke, both qualifying for their first Olympics. While in the 200m individual medley, four-time medal winner Kaylee McKeown will be joined in Paris by 19-year-old Ella Ramsey.
Matildas announce 18-woman Olympic squad
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With Australian women’s football still riding high off the back of the ongoing Matildas craze, the 18-woman squad for the women’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been announced – with some expected cuts and shock omissions. There’s no Sam Kerr, as the Matildas’ talismanic captain continues to battle an ACL injury. In her place, Steph Catley has been named as captain, with Emily Van Egmond serving as vice captain.
In addition to Catley and Van Egmond in leadership roles, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop have all made the squad, and will jointly become the first Australian footballers to compete at three separate Olympics.
Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Teagan Micah, and Hayley Raso have all been members of previous Matildas Olympic squads, and they’ll return for their second Games. Meanwhile, Olympic debutants Clare Hunt, Kaitlyn Torpey, Cortnee Vine and Clare Wheeler have also made the team.
Just missing the cut, Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin and Lydia Williams have been named as travelling reserves, meaning they’ll travel to Paris and can be activated to the squad in case of an injury or withdrawal.
The Australian runners taking on the Olympic marathon have been selected
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Three years ago, Australian women’s marathon record-holder Sinead Diver became the oldest ever Australian Olympian to compete in an athletics event. Now, at age 47, she’ll eclipse her own record after being selected as one of six runners to take part in the Olympic marathon.
Alongside Diver in the women’s event will be Genevieve Gregson and Jessica Stenson – the latter of which met the Olympic qualifying standard in April, just six months after giving birth to her second child.
On the men’s side, Brett Robinson, Patrick Tiernan and Liam Adams will all be heading to their third Olympics. Of the three, Robinson has the best chance at a medal as the Australian record holder. Although, it’s Adams who has the best previous result at the Olympics, finishing 24th in the marathon at the 2020 Games.
Three Aussie weightlifters book their tickets to Paris
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Australia’s weightlifting contingent at the 2024 Olympics will be made up entirely of newbies. All three of Eileen Cikamatana, Jacqueline Nichele and Kyle Bruce are first-time Olympians, and coincidentally, they’re also all 24 years old.
Cikamatana will compete in the women’s 81kg division and is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion. Nichele is a Pacific Games champion and will see action in the women’s 71kg event. Lastly, Bruce was a silver medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and belongs to the men’s 89kg class.
Who is on the Australian Olympic team?
Artistic Swimming
- Carolyn Buckle
- Georgia Courage-Gardiner
- Kiera Gazzard
- Margo Joseph-Kuo
- Milena Waldmann
- Putu Anastasia Kusmawan
- Raphaelle Gauthier
- Zoe Poulis
Athletics
- Abbey Caldwell (800m)
- Chris Mitrevski (Long Jump)
- Claudia Hollingsworth (800m)
- Eleanor Patterson (High Jump)
- Jemima Montag (Race Walk)
- Jessica Hull (1500m)
- Kyle Swan (Race Walk)
- Lauren Ryan (10,000m)
- Matthew Denny (Discus)
- Michelle Jenneke (100m Hurdles)
- Nicola Olyslagers (High Jump)
- Peter Bol (800m)
- Rebecca Henderson (Race Walk)
- Rhydian Cowley (Race Walk)
- Brett Robinson (Marathon)
- Genevieve Gregson (Marathon)
- Jessica Stenson (Marathon)
- Liam Adams (Marathon)
- Patrick Tiernan (Marathon)
- Sinead Diver (Marathon)
Badminton
- Angela Yu
- Setyana Mapasa
- Tiffany Ho
Beach Volleyball
- Mariafe Artacho del Solar
- Taliqua Clancy
- Thomas Hodges
- Zachary Schubert
Boxing
- Caitlin Parker
- Callum Peters
- Charlie Senior
- Harry Garside
- Marissa Williamson Pohlman
- Monique Suraci
- Shannan Davey
- Teremoana Teremoana
- Tiana Echegaray
- Tina Rahimi
- Tyla McDonald
- Yusuf Chofia
Breaking
- Jeff Dunne
- Rachael Gunn
Canoe Slalom/Canoe Sprint
- Jessica Fox (Canoe – Slalom)
- Tim Anderson (Canoe – Slalom)
- Tristan Carter (Canoe – Slalom)
- Ally Clark (Canoe – Sprint)
- Aly Bull (Canoe – Sprint)
- Alyce Wood (Canoe – Sprint)
- Ella Beere (Canoe – Sprint)
- Jackson Collins (Canoe – Sprint)
- Jean van der Westhuyzen (Canoe – Sprint)
- Noah Havard (Canoe – Sprint)
- Noemie Fox (Canoe – Slalom)
- Pierre van der Westhuyzen (Canoe – Sprint)
- Riley Fitzsimmons (Canoe – Sprint)
- Thomas Green (Canoe – Sprint)
- Yale Steinepreis (Kayaking, Canoe – Sprint)
Cycling
- Alexandra Manly (Track)
- Chloe Moran (Track)
- Conor Leahy (Track)
- Georgia Baker (Track)
- Grace Brown (Road)
- Kelland O’Brien (Track)
- Kristina Clonan (Track)
- Lauretta Hanson (Road)
- Leigh Hoffman (Track)
- Lucas Plapp (Road)
- Maeve Plouffe (Track)
- Matthew Glatezer (Track)
- Matthew Richardson (Track)
- Michael Matthews (Road)
- Oliver Bleddyn (Track)
Diving
- Anabelle Smith (Aquatics Diving)
- Maddi Keeney (Diving)
- Alysa Kolio (Aquatics Diving)
- Cassiel Rousseau (Aquatics Diving)
- Domonic Bedggood (Aquatics Diving)
- Ellie Cole (Diving)
- Jaxon Bowshire (Diving)
- Kurtis Mathews (Aquatics Diving)
- Melissa Wu (Aquatics Diving)
Equestrian
- Christopher Burton (Eventing)
- Edwina Tops-Alexander (Jumping)
- Hilary Scott (Jumping)
- Jayden Brown (Dressage)
- Kevin McNab (Eventing)
- Shane Rose (Eventing)
- Simon Pearce (Dressage)
- Thaisa Erwin (Jumping)
- Will Matthew (Dressage)
Football
- Mackenzie Arnold
- Teagan Micah
- Steph Catley
- Ellie Carpenter
- Clare Hunt
- Alanna Kenendy
- Clare Polkinghorne
- Kaitlyn Torpey
- Kyra Cooney-Cross
- Mary Fowler
- Katrina Gorry
- Emily van Egmond
- Clare Wheeler
- Tameka Yallop
- Caitlin Foord
- Michelle Heyman
- Hayley Raso
- Cortnee Vine
Golf
- Hannah Green
- Min Woo Lee
- Minjee Lee
Gymnastics
- Alex Kiroi-Bogatyreva (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
- Breanna Scott (Artistic Gymnastics)
- Brock Batty (Trampoline Gymnastics)
- Emily Whitehead (Artistics Gymnastics)
- Emma Nedov (Artistic Gymnastics)
- Emmanouela Frroku (Artistic Gymnastics)
- Jesse Moore (Artistic Gymnastics)
- Jessica Weintraub (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
- Kate McDonald (Artistic Gymnastics)
- Lidiia Iakovleva (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
- Phoebe Learmont (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
- Ruby Pass (Artistic Gymntastics)
- Saskia Boredelet (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
Hockey
- Alice Arnott
- Amy Lawton
- Andrew Charter
- Aran Zalewski
- Blake Govers
- Brooke Peris
- Claire Colwill
- Corey Weyer
- Eddie Ockenden
- Flynn Ogilvie
- Grace Stewart
- Grace Young
- Jacob Whetton
- Jake Harvie
- Jane Claxton
- Jeremy Hayward
- Jocelyn Bartram
- Joshua Beltz
- Kaitlin Nobbs
- Karri Somerville
- Ky Willott
- Lachlan Sharp
- Mariah Williams
- Matthew Dawson
- Penny Squibb
- rebecca Greiner
- Renee Taylor
- Stephanie Kershaw
- Tatum Stewart
- Thomas Craig
- Timothy Brand
- Tom Wickham
Judo
- Aoife Coughlan
- Joshua Katz
- Katharina Haecker
Rowing
- Alexander Hill (Men’s Four)
- Alexander Purnell (Men’s Eight)
- Amanda Bateman (Women’s Double Scull)
- Angus Dawson (Men’s Eight)
- Angus Widdicombe (Men’s Eight)
- Annabelle McIntyre (Women’s Pair)
- Ben Canham (Men’s Eight)
- Bronwyn Cox (Women’s Eight)
- Caitlin Cronin (Women’s Quadruple Sculls)
- Fergus Hamilton (Men’s Four)
- Georgina Rowe
- Giorgia Patten (Women’s Eight)
- Harriet Hudson (Women’s Double Sculls)
- Hayley Verbunt (Women’s Eight)
- Jack Hargreaves (Men’s Eight)
- Jacqueline Swick (Women’s Eight)
- James Robertson (Men’s Four)
- Jean Mitchell (Women’s Four)
- Jessica Morrison (Women’s Pair)
- Joseph O’Brien (Men’s Eight)
- Joshua Hicks (Men’s Eight)
- Katrina Werry (Women’s Eight)
- Kendall Brodie (Men’s Eight)
- Laura Gourley (Women’s Quadruple Sculls)
- Lilly Triggs (Women’s Four)
- Lucy Stephan (Women’s Eight)
- Molly Goodman (Women’s Four)
- Olympia Aldersey (Women’s Four)
- Paige Barr (Women’s Four)
- Patrick Holt (Men’s Pair)
- Ria Thompson (Women’s Quadruple Sculls)
- Rowena Meredith (Women’s Quadruple Sculls)
- Sarah Hawe (Women’s Eight)
- Somon Keenan (Men’s Pair)
- Spencer Turrin (Men’s Eight)
- Tara Rigney (Women’s Single Sculls)
- Timothy Masters (Men’s Four)
Rugby Sevens
- Ben Dowling
- Bienne Terita
- Bridget Clark
- Charlotte Caslick
- Corey Toole
- Diterich Roache
- Dominique du Toit
- Faith Nathan
- Hayden Sargeant
- Henry Hutchison
- Henry Paterson
- Isabella Nasser
- James Turner
- Kaitlin Shave
- Maddison Levi
- Mark Nawaqanitawase
- Maurice Longbottom
- Nathan Lawson
- Nick Malouf
- Sariah Paki
- Sharni Smale
- Teagan Levi
- Tia Hinds
Sailing
- Breiana Whitehead (Kite Foil Racing)
- Evie Haseldine (49ERFX)
- Grae Morris (Windsurfing)
- Jim Colley (49ER)
- Matt Wearn (ILCA7)
- Olivia Price (49ERFX)
- Shaun Connor (49ER)
- Brin Liddell (NACRA 17)
- Conor Nicholas (Mixed 470)
- Nia Jerwood (Mixed 470)
- Rhiannan Brown (NACRA 17)
- Zoe Thomson (ILCA 6)
Shooting
- Aislin Jones
- Catherine Skinner
- Dane Sampson
- Elena Galiabovitch
- Jack Rossiter
- James Willett
- Joshua Bell
- Mitchell Iles
- Penny Smith
- Sergei Evglevski
Skateboarding
- Arisa Trew (Park)
- Chloe Covell (Street)
- Haylie Powell (Street)
- Keefer Wilson (Park)
- Keegan Palmer (Park)
- Kieran Woolley (Park)
- Liv Lovelace (Street)
- Ruby Trew (Park)
- Shane O’Neill (Street)
Sport Climbing
- Campbell Harrison
- Oceania Mackenzie
Surfing
- Ethan Ewing
- Jack Robinson
- Molly Picklum
- Tyler Wright
Swimming
- Abbey Connor
- Alexandria Perkins
- Ariarne Titmus
- Ben Armbruster
- Bradley Woodward
- Brendon Smith
- Brianna Throssell
- Bronte Campbell
- Cameron McEvoy
- Chelsea Gubecka (Marathon Swimming)
- Elijah Winnington
- Elizabeth Dekkers
- Ella Ramsay
- Emma McKeon
- Flynn Southam
- Iona Anderson
- Isaac Cooper
- Jack Cartwright
- Jaclyn Barclay
- Jamie Perkins
- Jenna Forrester
- Jenna Strauch
- Joshua Yong
- Kai Taylor
- Kaylee McKeown
- Kyle Chalmers
- Kyle Lee (Marathon Swimming)
- Lani Pallister
- Matthew Temple
- Maximillian Giuliani
- Meg Harris
- Moesha Johnson (Marathon Swimming)
- Mollie O’Callaghan
- Nicholas Sloman (Marathon Swimming)
- Olivia Wunsch
- Sam Short
- Sam Williamson
- Se-Bom Lee
- Shayna Jack
- Thomas Neill
- William Petric
- William Yang
- Zac Incerti
- Zac Stubblety-Cook
Table Tennis
- Finn Luu
- Hwan Bae
- Melissa Tapper
- Michelle Bromley
- Min Hyng Jee
- Micholas Lum
Taekwondo
- Bailey Lewis
- Leon Sejranovic
- Stacey Hymer
Tennis
- Alex de Minaur (Men’s singles, doubles)
- Matthew Ebden (Doubles)
- Olivia Gadecki (Doubles)
- John Peers (Doubles)
- Ellen Perez (Doubles)
- Alexei Popyrin (Doubles)
- Daria Saville (Doubles)
- Rinky Hijikata (Men’s singles)
- Ajla Tomljanovic (Women’s singles)
Triathlon
- Luke Willian
- Matthew Hauser
- Natalie Van Coevorden
- Sophie Linn
Water Polo
- Abby Andrews
- Alice Williams
- Bronte Halligan
- Charlize Andrews
- Danijela Jackovich
- Elle Armit
- Gabriella Palm
- Genevieve Longman
- Keesja Gofers
- Sienna Green
- Sienna Hearn
- Tilly Kearns
- Zoe Arancini
- Angus Lambie
- Blake Edwards
- Jacob Mercep
- John Hedges
- Lachlan Edwards
- Luke Pavillard
- Marcus Berehulak
- Matthew Byrnes
- Milos Maksimovic
- Nathan Power
- Nic Porter
- Charlie Negus
- Chaz Poot
Weightlifting
- Eileen Cikamatana
- Jacqueline Nichele
- Kyle Bruce
Wrestling
- Georgii Okorokov
- Jayden Lawrence
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