Pittwater Online News

July 21 - 27, 2024: Issue 631

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: 18 Locals Representing Australia

The Paris Summer Olympic Games takes place from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The Paralympic Games takes place from August 28 to September 6.

Paris 2024 will feature the debut of breakdancing as an Olympic event, and could be the final Olympic Games held during the IOC presidency of Thomas Bach. The 2024 Games are expected to cost €9 billion.

Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet unveiled the Olympic and Paralympic medals for the Games in February 2024, which on the obverse featured embedded hexagon-shaped tokens of scrap iron that had been taken from the original construction of the Eiffel Tower, with the Games logo engraved into it.

The reverse of the medals features Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, inside the Panathenaic Stadium which hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896. Parthenon and the Eiffel Tower can also be seen in the background on both sides of the medal.

Approximately 5,084 medals would be produced by the French mint Monnaie de Paris, and were designed by Chaumet, a luxury jewellery firm based in Paris.

 Each medal weighs 455–529 g (16–19 oz), has a diameter of 85 mm (3.3 in) and is 9.2 mm (0.36 in) thick. The gold medals are made with 98.8 percent silver and 1.13 percent gold, while the bronze medals are made up with copper, zinc, and tin.

The emblem for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics was unveiled on 21 October 2019 at the Grand Rex. Inspired by Art Deco, it is a representation of Marianne, the national personification of France, with a flame formed in negative space by her hair. The emblem also resembles a gold medal. Tony Estanguet explained that the emblem symbolised "the power and the magic of the Games", and the Games being "for people". 

The use of a female figure also serves as an homage to the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, which were the first to allow women to participate.

The emblem was designed by the French designer Sylvain Boyer with the French design agency Royalties.

On 14 November 2022, The Phryges were unveiled as the mascots of the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics; they are a pair of anthropomorphic Phrygian caps, a historic French symbol of freedom and liberty. Marianne is commonly depicted wearing the Phrygian cap, including in the Eugène Delacroix painting, Liberty Leading the People. The two mascots share a motto of "Alone we go faster, but together we go further".

Most of the Olympic events will be held in the city of Paris and its metropolitan region, including the neighbouring cities of Saint-Denis, Le Bourget, Nanterre, Versailles, and Vaires-sur-Marne.

The basketball preliminaries and handball finals will be held in Lille, which is 225 km (140 mi) from the host city; the sailing and some football games will be held in the Mediterranean city of Marseille, which is 777 km (483 mi) from the host city; meanwhile, the surfing events are expected to be held in Teahupo'o village in the overseas territory of French Polynesia, which is 15,716 km (9,765 mi) from Paris, the host city. Football will also be hosted in another five cities, which are Bordeaux, Décines-Charpieu (Lyon), Nantes, Nice and Saint-Étienne.

Of this number 18 are from the Neutral Bay to Barrenjoey area. They will represent Australia as part of Rugby, Rowing, Sailing, Water Polo and Football Teams, as well as in individual events such as Athletics disciplines. 

Equestrian Shane Rose, 51, is the oldest member of the 2024 Australian Olympic team while skateboarder Arisa Trew is the youngest at just 14, just younger than Narrabeen Sports High School student and surfer, and fellow Olympics skateboarder for Australia, Ruby Trew, aged 15.

In 2018 Narrabeen Sports High School was announced as an Olympic Pathways school in the sport of surfing. In February 2023 this was re-announced with other sports added in. The state’s seven Sports High Schools officially became Australian Olympic Pathway Schools from February 8, 2023. 

Here's an Australian Olympics Committee video published just prior to the Winter School holidays break when Ruby went back to school to talk about her debut:

The Paris 2024 Australian Team is an experienced Team with a total of 334 Olympics under the belts of those competing compared with 260 Games in Tokyo. Some 50% of athletes will make their debuts in Paris compared with 62% at Tokyo 2020 and 64% at Rio 2016 representing Australia for the first time. It’s also a Team with the highest percentage of women in our Olympic history. Women represent 55.6% of this Team, quite different from the Paris 1924 Olympics when there were no women in the Australian Team, although locals represented Australian then too. 

Australia sent a team of 34 athletes to the Paris 1924 Olympics, the biggest Australian representation at an Olympics to that date, with the team equalling the record medal tally from 1912 by winning six medals: three gold, one silver and two bronze. The gold medals were won by Anthony Winter in the triple jump, Dick Eve in plain high diving, and swimmer Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton, who became the first Australian to win the 1500m freestyle. All three champions lived around Manly and received a great civic reception upon their return home. 

 Winter, Andrew 'Boy' Charlton, Ernest Henry, Ossie Merrett and Dick Eve outside Manly Town Hall. Photo: Manly Library/Northern Beaches Library History Hub

Andrew “Boy” Charlton, Paris 1924 Olympic champion at 16 (his birthday was August 12, 1907 - the 1924 Olympics ran July 5 -27). Photo courtesy Official History Australian Olympic Committee: Harry Gordon

In the final, Charlton slashed more than a minute off Borg’s world record to win in 20 minutes, 6.06 seconds. Charlton also won a bronze medal in the 400m freestyle and a silver medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay, teaming with Frank Beaurepaire, Maurice 'Moss' Christie and best friend Ernest Henry. Due to his busy schedule Charlton only swam the final with Ivan Stedman swimming the heat and semi-final. The other bronze medal was won by Beaurepaire in the 1500m freestyle. It was his third 1500m bronze, having also placed third in the race in 1908 and 1920. Frank Beaurepaire also was the first Australian to win medals at three different Olympics.

The Manly connection continued as the Australian Olympic Team’s manager was Ossie Merrett, secretary of the Australian Olympic Federation, and also a Manly local and Manly Swimming Club and Manly Rugby Club secretary. Charlton’s mentor and trainer, World War I veteran Tommy Adrian, also went with the team.

On July 18, 2024 the Australian Olympic Team were honouring Cecil Healy, with Olympians Kaarle McCulloch and Michelle Ford being joined by Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman MP, Australia's Ambassador to France Ms Gillian Bird PSM and the Mayor of Assevillers Didier Jacob.

2nd Lt Cecil Healy was a member of the 19th (Sportsman's) Battalion, who died in combat in the French town of Assevillers. He was also another local who represented Australia in early Olympic games.

Cecil Patrick Healy (28 November 1881 – 29 August 1918) was an Australian freestyle swimmer of the 1900s and 1910s, who won silver in the 100 m freestyle at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He also won gold in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay. He was killed in the First World War at the Somme during an attack on a German trench. Healy was the second swimmer behind Mona Vale's Frederick Lane to represent Australia in Swimming and has been allocated the number "Dolphin 2" by Swimming Australia on a list of all Australians who have represented Australia at an Open International Level.

The son of a barrister, Healy was born in Darlinghurst, but moved with his family to the rural town of Bowral where he received his primary schooling. He moved to Sydney in 1896, joining the East Sydney Swimming Club, of which Frederick Lane was also a member. 

Cecil Healy was also a member of the North Steyne Surf Lifesaving Club, Manly Swimming Club, and involved in the surfing display by Duke Kahanamoku at Freshwater in December 1914. He wrote reports on this, and other surf life saving and surfing developments for the 'Referee' prior to serving in WWI.

Mona Vale SLSC founder Freddie Lane, ''Dolphin 1'', competed at the 1900 Paris Summer Olympics and won two gold medals. He first won the 200 metres freestyle, clearly beating Hungarian Zoltán Halmay. His second final was just 45 minutes later, the discontinued 200 metre obstacle event, where he beat Austrian Otto Wahle. 

Picture: Cecil Healy, seated at left, with East Sydney teammates; Freddie is at right back - Manly swimming club pic circa 1905

Cecil in his Manly Swimming Club togs

Sarah 'Fanny' Durack (Swimming) was Australia's first female gold medallist, winning the 100m Freestyle at Stockholm 1912. Sarah 'Fanny' Durack and Wilhelmina Wylie (Swimming) were Australia's first female Olympians, competing at Stockholm 1912.

Track Athlete Edwin Flack was the first Australian to win a gold medal at the Olympics after clinching the men's 1500m track race at Athens 1896. He also won the gold medal in men's 800m race at the 1896 edition.

Fanny Durack (left) and Mina Wylie at the 1912 Olympics

The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC in Ancient Greece, in the city of Olympia. They were events dedicated to the Greek gods, especially Zeus, and seen as a celebration of masculinity and virility and a demonstration of strength and bravery. Greek society had very defined gender roles and women were restricted in terms of participation in public events and sporting participation. The Olympic Games were no exception. Women were forbidden to participate in these events as competitors, spectators or even as priestesses honouring the gods in the related rituals. The only women allowed to join a predominantly male audience were unmarried women.  

When, at the end of the 19th century, the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin set out to revive the Games 'in order to strengthen young people physically', he too opposed women's participation in the first Games in 1896. For the creator of the modern Olympic Games, the presence of women in a stadium was unsightly, uninteresting and improper: "The Games are the solemn and periodic exaltation of male sport – with the applause of women as a reward''. De Coubertin remained an opponent of women's participation until his death. 

It was not until the second edition in Paris in 1900 that 22 women out of a total of 997 athletes took part in the competition. However, their presence was almost token and was limited to sports "of a feminine nature", according to the organisers – namely golf and tennis. A number of voices opposed even this iota of equality, however, pressure from the women's movement maintained a fierce backlash against the rejection of the women’s inclusion in sport. 

The Amsterdam Olympics in 1928 was the turning point for the inclusion of women. Nearly 300 female athletes –almost 10 % of the total– were registered for this event and were allowed to participate in more sports, four of them Australian women; Bonnie Mealing, Edna Davey and Doris Thompson in Swimming events, and Edith (Edie) Frances Robinson (26 February 1906 – 7 October 2000), the first Australian female track and field athlete to compete at an Olympic Games. During the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, as Australia's oldest living Olympian, Robinson was awarded the honour of officially opening the Olympic Village. Edie passed away on 7 October 2000, six days after the end of the Sydney Games. 

Australia's first female Olympic sprinters: Edith Robinson (left) and Eileen Wearne. 

However, it wasn't until the 1984 edition in Los Angeles that women were allowed to participate in a marathon for the first time, signalling there is still a way to go for women's sports.

Mosman To Barrenjoey Athletes In Paris 2024 Australian Olympics Team

Those listed by the AOC as from our area are:

1. Rowena Meredith of Mosman in Rowing, Quad Scull (Wx4) - her second Olympics (2020), age: 29
2. Tilly Kearns of Mosman, Water Polo (2nd Olympics, 2020), age: 23
3. Sienna Green of Mosman, Water Polo, debut, age: 19
4. Michelle Bromley of Neutral Bay Table Tennis, (2nd Olympics, 2020), age: 36
5. Henry Hutchison of Cremorne, Rugby Sevens, his third Olympics (2016, 2020), age: 27
6. Shaun Connor of Fairlight, 49er Sailing, debut games, age: 26
7. Bronte Halligan of Manly, Water Polo, second games (2020), age: 27
8. Sienna Hearn of North Manly, Water Polo, debut games, age: 22
9. Clare Wheeler of Dee Why, Football, debut games, age: 26
10. Sariah Paki of Dee Why, Rugby Sevens, her second Games (2020) age: 22 
11. Brandon Starc of Collaroy Plateau, Athletics: High Jump, his third Olympics (2016, 2020), age: 30
12. Nick Malouf of Collaroy, Captain of Rugby Sevens men's team, his third Olympics (2016, 2020), age: 31
13. Olivia Lovelace of Collaroy Plateau, Skateboard - Street, debut games, age: 20
14. Georgina Rowe of North Narrabeen, Rowing (Womens 8), Georgie's second Olympics (2020), age: 31
15. Ruby Trew of North Narrabeen, Skateboard - Park, Ruby's debut Games, age: 15
16. Kristie Edwards of Newport, Athletics - 4 x100m, her debut games, age: 24
17. Sharni Smale (nee Williams) of Newport, Rugby Sevens, Sharni's third Olympics (2016, 2020), age: 36
18. Jim Colley of Avalon Beach, 49er Sailing, debut games, age: 26

Biographies*

Rowena Meredith 

of Mosman in Rowing, Quad Scull (Wx4) - her second Olympics (2020), age: 29

Rowena Meredith embarked on her international rowing journey at the 2015 U23 World Championships, clinching a silver medal alongside Georgie Gotch, Leah Saunders, and Tessa Carty. 

Transitioning to Rowing Australia’s National Training Centre in the subsequent year, Rowena, under the guidance of John Keogh, Tom Westgarth, and Ellen Randell, cemented her presence in Australia’s senior quad sculls team. Notably, she secured a second-place finish in the 2017 World Cup Rowing II.

Continuing her streak, Rowena seized another silver medal at the 2017 U23 World Championships, followed by podium finishes in the World Rowing Cups II and III in subsequent years.

Her Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games marked a significant milestone, where she contributed to the women's quadruple sculls bronze medal. Despite facing formidable competition and securing their spot in the final through the repechage, Meredith and her crew showcased remarkable resilience, clinching the bronze medal.

The achievement coincided with a golden moment for Australian rowing, as the nation's men’s and women’s fours claimed gold, and the men’s and women’s quadruple sculls secured bronze. This collective success, alongside swimmer Ariarne Titmus' gold medal in the 200m freestyle, marked a historic high for the Australian Olympic Team.

Rowena continued her rowing journey, earning a spot in the Australian sculling squad for the 2022 international season and the World Rowing Championships. Her participation in various competitions, including the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan and World Cup III in Lucerne, showcased her commitment to excellence.

At the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racize, she finished sixth in the quad scull.

In March 2023, Rowena was once again chosen to represent Australia, this time alongside Harriet Hudson, Ria Thompson, and Caitlin Cronin, in the quad scull for the international season.

Despite some challenges, including a change in crew members, Rowena and her team showcased resilience, securing their spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics at the 2023 World Rowing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

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Tilly Kearns 

of Mosman - junior club Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers, Water Polo (2nd Olympics, 2020), age: 23

Unlike many of her fellow players, it was not love at first sight – or touch – for Matilda 'Tilly' Kearns, when as a 13-year-old she jumped into the deep end of the water polo pool. 

“At first I didn’t really like it because I didn’t really get it. I did it for four weeks and it was barely water polo, it was like bull-rush with a ball," she said of her first foray in the sport.

“I stopped playing it but then came back the next season, and because I was bigger than everyone I was better at it and started to like it from there,” Tilly said, of her 176cm frame.

Tilly joined the Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers (SNBB) club and came through the age groups and as soon as she made her first NSW state team, she was determined for Olympic glory. 

A Water Polo high-performance camp in July 2018 fuelled that fire a little more.

“I loved the camp, it just sparked my love for the sport again. It was really tactical, it was about learning the plays and combinations,” Tilly said.

Tilly quickly developed into a classic centre-forward with an eye for goal. Playing with the Sydney University Lions, she was selected to compete in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 FINA World Junior Championships.

She scored 29 goals in her freshman year in 2019 with the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans but would not return for the 2020 season (COVID-19) or 2021 to concentrate on Tokyo preparations. However, she was back at USC in 2022, where she was top scorer for the Trojans with 64 goals. In 2023, she scored 69 goals, making her the second-highest Trojans scorer and No. 16 on USC’s career scoring leaderboard with 162 goals.

Tilly did not return to USC in 2024 in order to concentrate on preparing for the Paris Olympics.

Tilly is one of four children to mum Julie and Wallabies legend Phil Kearns, who won two World Cups for Australia in rugby union (1991, 1999), and who actually played some Water Polo in his youth. 

Tilly made her Olympic debut at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. Australia enjoyed an impressive start to the tournament, securing a group stage record of 3-1. This set up a quarter-final tie against the ROC, which the Stingers lost in heart-breaking fashion 9-8.

The squad went on to record consecutive victories against Canada and the Netherlands, earning them a fifth place overall at the Games.

In their first international competition after Tokyo, the Stingers claimed gold at the FINA World League International Cup in Peru in March 2022.  After going undefeated through the pool matches to set up a gold medal clash with the United States, Australia took an early lead and held off fightbacks from the Americans in the second and third quarters to triumph 11-4. 

That year, Australia finished sixth at the World Championships in Budapest, going down 8-5 to Spain in the play-off for fifth.

Ahead of the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Tilly was listed among the players to watch at the tournament, described as “young and hungry.”

The Stingers pulled off wins over China and France in Fukuoka before a thrilling 9-8 quarter-final victory over Greece. Beaten by just two goals in the semi-final against Spain, Australia then lost to Italy in the play-off for bronze, again by two goals.

At the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Australia finished sixth, beating Britain 20-8 in the round of 16 before going down by a point to the USA in the quarter-finals.

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Sienna Green 

of Mosman, Water Polo, debut, age: 19

When Sienna Green realised as a nine-year-old that water polo combined the two sports she loved, she was hooked.

“I started playing when I was nine because my parents and older brother played water polo,” she said. “It combined the other sports I played at the time of swimming and basketball and I instantly fell in love.

“I really enjoyed the physicality and strategy of the game and I just loved playing.”

After winning an Australian Water Polo League title with the University of Sydney Lions in 2021, Sienna captained the national under-18 team, before earning her first cap for the Australian women’s team, the Stingers, in 2022.

She made her debut with the Stingers against Canada in March of 2022. Sienna served as captain and was the highest goal-scorer of the Australian team at the 2022 FINA World Women's Youth Water Polo Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Following a successful US college season for UCLA in 2023, in which she shone not only as a central defender but also as an increasingly effective presence in attack – scoring 39 goals in 29 games – Sienna was selected in the Stingers’ 2024 world championships squad.

The 193cm utility played in all of the Stingers’ seven games, marking some of the world’s best attackers while scoring nine goals herself. Australia finished sixth at the Doha tournament.

Sienna earned particular praise from commentators when she scored two goals in quick succession in a thrilling 9-10 quarter-final loss to reigning Olympic champions USA.

NSW Institute of Sport water polo program head coach Jacki Northam has described Sienna as “a player to watch … ready to unleash on the world”.

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Michelle Bromley 

of Neutral Bay Table Tennis, (2nd Olympics, 2020), age: 36

Michelle Bromley’s destiny was always intertwined with table tennis. Her parents fell in love at a tennis table club, and her grandparents competed at a national level well into their 80s. The sport became a family affair, with Michelle’s older brothers also taking up the racket, and it wouldn’t be long before she followed in her family’s footsteps. 

Growing up in the small NSW country town of Gulgong, six-year-old Michelle would tirelessly hit the ball against the kitchen wall at home, much to her mother’s annoyance. By the age of seven, she secured her first trophy at the State Primary School Championships.

Recognising her talent, Michelle’s mother nurtured her early table tennis development. However, by the age of 10, her father took over as her coach and warm-up partner, recognising something special in her.

One of Michelle’s fondest memories was training with her dad each night in the family shed. At 13, she clinched her first national title and represented Australia internationally that year. Despite several attempts, it was in 2018 that Michelle was first selected to wear the green and gold at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, crediting her selection to her late father.

“My dad is my hero; he was always my biggest fan and believed I could achieve my dreams,” Michelle said.

Michelle made it to the women’s doubles quarter-finals in her Commonwealth Games debut and was part of the Australian women’s team that lost a bronze medal match against England. 

In 2020 she qualified for her first Olympic Games, making her debut at Tokyo 2020. The 32-year-old at the time won eight out of her nine matches at the Australian Qualification Tournament, securing her ticket to Tokyo.

At the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, Michelle made her Olympic debut in both the women’s singles and team events. She faced Polish athlete Natalia Partyka in an opening round singles loss. Teaming up with Melissa Tapper and Jian Fang Lay, they competed against Germany. Germany advanced 3-0.

After Tokyo, Michelle competed in various state and national competitions with her best results including two victories in the NSW Closed Championship in the 2022 and 2024 seasons. She also went on to win the women’s open division in the St George and Sutherland Shire Open Championships two months before the Australian Olympic qualifiers. 

In the 2024 Australian Olympic qualification tournament Michelle won five out of her seven matchups, which included victory over six-time Australian table tennis Olympian Jian Fang Lay. 

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Henry Hutchison 

of Cremorne, Rugby Sevens, his third Olympics (2016, 2020), age: 27

Henry Hutchison burst onto the scene in late 2015 having got a call-up for the Australian side for the Rio 2016 Oceania qualifiers. He was one of the side’s best as the Aussies booked their tickets to Rio. Henry went on to score 27 tries in his debut World Series season, was named rookie of the year and secured a spot in the final 12 for Rio 2016.

The Australian team got off to a slow start in Rio after opening the tournament with a 31-14 point loss to France. The side bounced back with a 26-12 victory over Spain before they kept their medal hopes alive with a 12-5 win over South Africa in their final group match. 

They again faced the South African side in the quarter-finals and it was the BlitzBokke who reversed the result to claim a 22-5 win over the Aussies and move through to the final four. Losses to Argentina and France, in which Henry scored his only try of the tournament against, followed for Australia who finished the tournament in eighth.

Following Rio, Henry returned to the 15-man game taking up a one-year deal with Super Rugby club the Melbourne Rebels. After a year, he returned to the Sevens program in 2018 and was named to the Australian side for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco.

In 2021, Henry was named vice-captain for the Aussie side that played New Zealand over a six-match competition in May. He went on to compete with the Aussies in Townsville for the Oceania Sevens in June.

Henry made his second Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020. Australia would see themselves progress to the knockout stage of the tournament, after a 42-5 win over South Korea. This set up a quarter-final clash against Fiji, which saw the Aussies denied medal contention losing 19-0. Victory over Canada would earn Henry and Australia seventh place overall at the tournament.

Henry was in outstanding form during the 2021-22 World Rugby Sevens Series – notching up his 100th try and earning selection for his Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham, where Australian finished fourth, losing to New Zealand in the play-off for bronze.

An ACL tear suffered at the Sydney Sevens tournament in February 2023 sidelined Henry for most of the year. He had also suffered a sprained wrist and broken ribs the previous week in Hamilton, New Zealand. 

He made his return to the squad at the Perth Sevens in early 2024, where Australia finished second, going down to Argentina in the final.

Australian Sevens coach John Manenti is delighted to have Henry back to full fitness. “I am over the moon to be able to welcome back Henry Hutchison into the playing squad – an ACL injury always tests a player’s resolve to come back and ‘Hutch’ has worked his tail off to get back.

“He’ll make a big difference just lightening up some of the stuff for Nick (Malouf) and he gives us another strong leader out on the field.”

Away from the rugby pitch, Henry has completed a Bachelor of Commerce with a Major in Finance at the University of NSW.

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Shaun Connor 

of Fairlight - former St Luke's Grammar High School at Dee Why student, 49er Sailing, debut games, age: 26

Born into a sailing family on Sydney’s northern beaches, Shaun Connor was out on the water by the time he was four.

“I started sailing with my older brother in a Manly Junior at Middle Harbour Skiff Club, although I have always been out on the water since a new-born with my family,” Shaun said. “My mum and dad are both keen sailors and introduced me to it ever since I can remember.”

At the age of 14, Shaun teamed up with his mate Jim Colley, a fellow Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club sailor. Two years later the pair were off to the ISAF Youth World Championships in Portugal. The pair began posting some significant results on the 49er circuit, culminating in a silver medal in 2023 at the prestigious Hyeres regatta in the south of France – a major event in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics.

The medal was even more remarkable given Jim was sick at the start of the regatta and unsure whether he would be able to race.

“It’s a testament to Shaun, I’m full praise for him,” Jim said at the time. “He’s done everything for me this week, I only had to get on the boat and sail it. He took care of the rest.’’

A win in the 49er class at the Sail Sydney regatta in December 2023 by Jim and Shaun ensured an Olympic quota for Australia. The tricky waters off Marseille, where the Paris Olympics sailing regatta will take place, will be no mystery to Shaun and Jim. The pair took part in an Olympic test event there in July 2023, arriving in the southern French city in early June to get in some extra training time.

"Super tricky conditions ... with the breeze shifting through a wide range and almost vacuums of wind at times,” Shaun said.

The multitude of challenges sailing throws up is what continues to fuel Shaun’s passion for the sport.

“I love sailing as it such a versatile, all-encompassing sport,” he said. “It challenges myself in all aspects of life, from requiring the people skills of teamwork, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving and technical areas of understanding the practical skills of physics and environment around you.

“Also, the sheer diversity of sailing really displays my love for the sport, with so many different disciplines, from Olympics to Ocean Racing.”

Shaun has a Bachelor of Construction Management and property from the University of NSW and hopes to utilise his studies and experience to develop a dual career in sport and business.

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Bronte Halligan 

of Manly - junior club Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers, former student at Stella Maris College Manly, Water Polo, second games (2020), age: 27

What is it about rugby league Test footballers whose children excel in water polo? Bronte Halligan is the daughter of Kiwis and Canterbury-Bankstown goal-kicking legend Daryl Halligan; former Australian junior team member Jamie-Lee Lewis is the daughter of Kangaroos and Maroons legend Wally Lewis; while Sharks player Aidan Roach is the son of Kangaroos and Balmain icon Steve Roach.

“Maybe it's just the physicality and aggression in the sports that transfer, who knows,'' Bronte said when posed the question.

''I knew I wanted to be an athlete of some sort and represent my country when I watched dad play. It just motivates me even more.

''I can't kick a ball that well … But he definitely helps me on the mental side of things just to cope and make sure I'm always on top of things.”

Bronte finished high school at Stella Maris College and then left Sydney to further her water polo and studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she enjoyed stellar seasons for the Bruins in 2017 (25 goals), 2018 (31 goals) and 2019 (34 goals). Taking 2020 and 2021 to pursue her goal of representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics.

Bronte made her Stingers debut in 2014 as a 17-year-old, picking up two medals (FINA World League Intercontinental Cup gold; FINA World League Finals bronze) in her opening year.

She added to her Australian resume, making her Olympic debut at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. She started her tournament in style, scoring all three of Australia's goals in their opening match against Canada and helped the Stingers to a second-place finish in their group.

Bronte added her fourth and fifth goals of the tournament in the quarter-finals against ROC but it was not enough for the Aussies, losing a tense match 8-9. Australia recorded consecutive victories against Canada and the Netherlands to earn fifth overall at the event.

After Tokyo the right-handed utility moved to Italy to play professionally for Ekipe Orrizonte, in the Italian league. The side won its 22nd title in 2022. 

Bronte was part of the Stingers leadership group in Fukuoka, Japan for the 2023 World Aquatic Championships, where Australia finished fourth. After a tight 12-10 loss to Spain in the semi-finals, the Stingers lost the third-place play-off to Italy 16-14.

At the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Australia finished sixth, beating Britain 20-8 in the round of 16 before going down by a point to the USA in the quarter-finals.

The fact that she plays in a team sport like her dad is something Bronte is proud of.

"Medals and team success - that's what I want,” she said. “I want my team to be successful. I want us to compete day in and day out as the Stingers. If that means we're winning medals, then great. If that means we're in a phase where we're just grinding and working hard, then fantastic.

"I'm not in an individual sport; I'm in a team sport. That's my most important thing - that I see my entire team around me, myself included, flourish together."

Out of the pool, Bronte is a strategy lead at Cerebral Palsy Australia. She studied Psychology and Disability Studies at UCLA.

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Sienna Hearn 

of North Manly - Junior Club Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers, Water Polo, debut games, age: 22

Good friendships are what drew Sienna Hearn to water polo and set her on the path to the Paris Olympics. 

“My friends were what made me get started, then I stuck with it because of how much fun it is being part of a team,” Sienna said.

“I played a lot of sport growing up and I tried it with friends and stuck with it ever since.”

Growing up on Sydney’s northern beaches, Sienna started her water polo journey at the Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers Water Polo Club at the age of seven and excelled as a junior.

The Carlile Freshwater teacher made her debut for Australia at the 2022 FINA World League Intercontinental Cup in Peru, picking up a player of the match award in her second game.

“I was nervous in the first match, the second was against Brazil so high scoring and I just started to feel a bit more comfortable.”

The Stingers were unbeaten in that tournament, knocking over world number one the USA along the way. 

After strong performances in the Australian Water Polo League with the UTS Balmain Tigers, she was in the Stingers squad for the 2024 World Championships in Doha. Australia finished sixth, beating Britain 20-8 in the round of 16 before going down by a point to the USA in the quarter-finals.

Sienna balances work, with university training with both her club and the NSW Institute of Sport and would love to one day play in Europe. Sienna was a recipient of a Forbes and Ursula Carlile Foundation scholarship as supporting her ultimate goal of playing at the Olympics in 2024.

Away from the pool, Sienna is studying to become a school teacher.

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Clare Wheeler 

of Dee Why, Football, debut games, age: 26

Born in the NSW north coast town of Coffs Harbour and brought up in Newcastle, Clare Wheeler discovered football as a 10-year-old, when a friend started playing and convinced her to come along. The rest of Clare’s family were a little mystified when she announced she wanted to play with Adamstown Rosebud FC.

“No one in my immediate family was football inclined and they kind of had to learn the rules of the game with me at the same time,” she said.

Clare quickly showed talent and continued her development at Newcastle’s Hunter Sports High School. At the age of 13 she was selected to play in the state youth league and by the time she was 15 she was playing for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League Women.

A combative defensive midfielder, Clare played for Newcastle for the next seven years before signing for Sydney FC.

Clare also pursued a career in finance, completing a bachelor of commerce at Sydney University and in 2020 she was playing for Sydney FC while working at a bank.

“I wanted to be more than just a footballer,” she said. “I wanted to pursue my education in commerce alongside football to ensure I had a football/life balance.”

Clare made the move to Europe in 2021, signing with Danish club Fortuna Hjørring. The following year she was loaned to English Women’s Super League team Everton, and the deal was made permanent in 2023.

She made her debut for the Matildas in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in September 2022 and she was in the squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup that year. Clare was also in the squad as the Matildas captured Australia’s imagination with their thrilling run to the semi-finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. She spent most of the tournament as a back-up to a Matildas midfield featuring the quality of Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross.

However, injuries to key players have created opportunities for her. She scored her first international goal in an 8-0 win over the Philippines in Perth in October 2023 and was in the squad as the Matildas qualified for the Paris Olympics with home and away victories over Uzbekistan in February 2024.

Clare’s long-standing mantra has been “just give things a crack” and she has consistently strived to push herself out of her comfort zone.

“You're not going to grow unless you push yourself,” she said. “So that's what I've done. I want to do the most that I can, while I can.”

She plans to keep on pushing even when her football career is over.

“I think the next step for me will be to continue in my further education,” she said. “I don’t have a particular position in mind, but I’m very interested in sustainable economics and I enjoyed working in the fast-paced financial industry.”

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Sariah Paki 

of Dee Why, born in Manly - former Narrabeen Sports High School student, Rugby Sevens, her second Games (2020) age: 22 

Sariah Paki created history in 2018, debuting for Australia at the Dubai Sevens at just 17 years of age. This meant the Manly product was the youngest person ever to play for Australia in the Sevens World Series.

Ironically Sariah, who has been nicknamed ‘Big Girl’ thanks to her physical and aggressive style of play, grew up playing touch football.

After encouragement from her father, she began playing rugby league. Playing as a front rower, Sariah featured in the Cronulla Sharks team that took out the Tarsha Gale Cup (NSW U19 Womens Premiership) in 2018. Little did she know she was also playing with a future Australian Rugby Sevens Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic teammate in Faith Nathan.

Following this match, Sariah began to turn her attention to her Rugby Sevens dream. After spending some time in the development system, Sariah played for Australia in a youthful side selected for the Oceania sevens in November of 2018.

Sariah’s strong performances across the tournament led to her Dubai debut just two weeks later. 

Sariah would have played more Sevens tournaments if not for the interruptions provided by the COIVD-19 pandemic. In this period, she played in the domestic Uni 7s tournament, designed to prepare the Australian players for the delayed Tokyo Games.

Her performances saw her included in the Australian team which took on New Zealand in a six-game series held in Auckland, as well as the Oceania 7s team which was Australia’s final hit out before the Tokyo Olympics.

Sariah made her Olympic debut in Australia’s group stage win against Japan. After progressing through the group stages, Australia was set to face Sevens juggernauts Fiji in the quarter-finals. In a tight affair Australia was defeated 14-12, denying them a chance at a medal in Tokyo.

Sariah scored her first Olympic try against ROC in the side's 35-7 win. A win against the United States ultimately saw Australia claim fifth place in the competition.

The following year Sariah featured in the Australian team at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Her best performance of the tournament came in the match against Scotland in the group stage where she scored two tries. 

Sariah played in the final of the tournament, where Australia defeated Fiji 22-12, avenging the loss in Tokyo and claiming gold.

With the focus turning to the Paris Olympics, Sevens coach Tim Walsh placed more responsibility on Sariah given her youth. She was named in the Australian extended squad for the 2023-24 Sevens World Series with the attention firmly on Paris. Sariah played in every tournament of the season as Australia won the series for the fourth time.

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Brandon Starc 

of Collaroy Plateau, Athletics: High Jump, his third Olympics (2016, 2020), age: 30

Brandon Starc began his athletics career at Parramatta Little Athletics while attending Lidcombe Public School and began to focus on high jump seriously in 2009, attending the Hills Sports High School. A multi-skilled athlete, Brandon also played cricket and football but decided to pursue athletics.

In his international debut at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, Brandon won silver with a PB of 2.19m.

In 2012, he placed sixth at the world juniors ahead of his senior debut in 2013 at the world championships.

Eighth in the Commonwealth Games in 2014, preceded a breakthrough in 2015 where domestically he raised his PB to 2.30m, before a magnificent first attempt clearance at 2.31m in the qualifying round at the world championships. It earned him a berth in the final, the first Australian since Tim Forsyth in 1997 to make the world championship final.  

Selected for the Rio 2016 Olympics, he put on an excellent performance, clearing 2.29m in the qualifying round to progress to the final where he placed 15th. Brandon participated in limited competition in 2017, due to a shin injury which left him short of a qualifier for the 2017 World Championships. A solid 2017/18 domestic season saw him win the Commonwealth Games trials with a jump of 2.28m – his best height since Rio.

A landmark year started with him winning the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold with a PB 2.32m clearance.

In Europe, he equalled his PB of 2.32m in Hungary, then set a PB of 2.33m in Birmingham in August. A week later, he added an astonishing 3cm to his best, with an amazing 2.36m clearance in Germany. The mark equalled the Australian record, was the highest leap by an Australian for 21 years and moved him to equal third in the world. 

Five days later Brandon cleared 2.33m to win the 2018 Diamond League final, and then won silver in the Continental Cup. Despite injury in 2019, he placed sixth in the final, the equal best Australian male at the championships. 

In April 2021 he won his fourth national high jump title and in June in Rome he cleared the Olympic qualifier of 2.33m, his best clearance for three years.

In the empty Olympic stadium in Tokyo, he had a clean sheet at every height until 2.30m, then he was nearly bundled out with two misses at 2.33m, but he recovered to clear 2.35m at his first attempt as just five athletes remained in the competition. Brandon then missed attempts at 2.37m & 2.39m. Eventually 2.37m was a height which won all the medals. Brandon’s 2.35m was the highest fifth place leapt in any high jump competition in history. He would have also won bronze at every Olympics in the last two decades.

“That was hard – 2.35m to come fifth. I don’t even know if that’s happened before,” he said.

“I thought I was a genuine chance at 2.39m to be honest. As soon as the three of them jumped 2.37m the best I would have come was fourth and I wanted a medal.”

Selected for the World Championships and Commonwealth Games in June 2022, unfortunately Brandon had to withdraw from the Worlds on the eve of the championships, as he had been battling a bruised heel in the leadup to Eugene. Two weeks later in Birmingham at the Commonwealth Games, where he started as defending champion, he had to jump through the pain to take the silver medal with a clearance of 2.25m.

He started 2023 with a short European indoor tour with a best result of 2.27m. Seeking his fifth National title in April, he was involved in an intriguing battle with Victorian Joel Baden. Brandon would finish second with a 2.29m clearance – his best jump Since the Tokyo Olympics.  

Brandon had a delay to his international season when in April he snapped his collarbone in a freak accident when his spikes were caught in the high jump bags while doing runup drills.

Selected for Budapest 2023, it was Brandon ninth Australian senior team and marked a decade on the National team. After clearing 2.28m in the qualifying round, he settled for equal 8th in the final with a 2.25m jump. He maintained his impressive record of qualifying for finals, his 7th consecutive, only missing in his senior debut at the world championships in 2013.

Brandon didn’t compete during the 2024 domestic season battling a hip injury.

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Nick Malouf 

of Collaroy, Captain of Rugby Sevens men's team, his third Olympics (2016, 2020), age: 31

Having originally played the 15-man game, Nick Malouf made his international sevens debut at the 2012 Dubai World Series tournament and quickly established himself as a regular in the team. He played in every game of the 2013 and 2014 World Series before rupturing his ACL in September 2015. After sitting on the sideline for the 2015-16 World Series, he returned in time to impress at the side’s final training camp in June 2016 to make the final squad.

Making his Olympic debut in Rio, Nick finished the event in eighth place after the Australian men's rugby sevens team recorded losses to Argentina and France. After the Games, Nick returned to the 15-man game, signing with the Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. During his year-long stint with the Tigers, Nick became a regular try scorer on the wing. 

In late 2020 Nick re-committed to the Aussie Sevens squad for another Olympic campaign. During the 2019-20 season, he was rewarded with the Shawn Mackay Award, which recognises him as Australia's best player for the season.

Nick made his second Olympic appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Games, captaining the Australian sevens team throughout their campaign. Leading by example, Nick would score twice in the group stage of the tournament, in Australia's 14-12 loss to New Zealand and 42-5 victory over South Korea, which was enough for them to progress to the knockout stages of the tournament. 

After a disappointing loss against Fiji, Nick would add his third of the tournament in Australia's final game against Canada. Defeating the Canadians 26-7 saw the Aussies claim seventh overall at the tournament.

Nick retained the captaincy at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, where Australian finished fourth, losing to New Zealand in the play-off for bronze. He also led the Australian team that claimed their first World Rugby Sevens Series title in 2021-22, before finishing fourth at the Sevens World Cup in Cape Town.

Nick has continued to lead the team in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

He has a bachelor of commerce and works part time as a business analyst for an advisory and investment firm.

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Olivia Lovelace 

of Collaroy Plateau - former Narrabeen Sports High School student, Skateboard - Street, debut games, age: 20

Liv Lovelace remembers being instantly hooked by the “borderlessness” of her sport when she had her first ride on a skateboard as an eight-year-old.

“Just the freedom,” she said. “Being able to be a little kid and kind of run away in my own little world and get lost, and I feel like it gave me an outlet to become the person that I am.”

Even these days, as one of the top-ranked street skateboarders in the world, she still feels the same way.

“All my friends are around skating and I just like being able to go skating by myself and put headphones in or listen to the world go by and be in my own world,” Liv said. “It's my happy place.”

Liv represented Australia at the skateboarding world championships in 2018 and 2019 and was on track for the Tokyo Olympics – where skateboarding made its debut – when injury intervened.

She broke her arm in two places while skating in Melbourne in the build-up to the Games. The injury required three operations and kept her off her board for seven months. Then there was a second fall that left her with ankle ligament damage and another three months out of action.

But she returned to take third place at the Oceania championships and fourth place at the national championships, before taking on the 2022 world championships, where she finished 10th. 

Liv continued to perform on the world skateboarding tour through 2023, boosting her ranking to 18.

Liv secured her place at the Paris Games by finishing with a ranking of 15 after the final event of the Olympic qualification series in Budapest.

Liv graduated from Narrabeen Sports High School in 2021 after completing her Higher School Certificate.

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Georgina Rowe 

of North Narrabeen - former Davidson High School student, Collaroy SLSC member, Rowing (Womens 8), Georgie's second Olympics (2020), age: 31

By the end of her high school days, Georgina Rowe was competing in surf-boat racing. Between 2009 - 2013 she was at Manly Surf Club competing in surf ski paddling and kayaking, which was her original Olympic dream. Her Aunty - Shelley Oates Wilding was a two times Olympian in kayaking and a big influence and mentor for Georgie as well as her Uncle Guy Wilding who was the national coach.  He took her under his wing. 

When Georgie realised kayaking wasn’t for her ‘’having far too much fun in the surf club’’ she transferred to surf boats, where she quickly realised she had found her real passion. After rowing surf boats at Manly for a year, she transferred to Collaroy. ‘’Transferring to Collaroy was a great move for me, I made so many wonderful friends and feel at home when I’m there.’’

Her sporting life changed when then Mona Vale SLSC boat sweep Ryan Halangahu suggested she should compete in the National Indoor Rowing Championships in 2016, which she won.

After meeting coaches from Rowing Australia and University of Technology Haberfield, her eventual senior rowing club, Georgina participated in the 2017 World Indoor Rowing Championships, finishing second.

A late bloomer into rowing, Georgina at age 25 competed in her first rowing tournament, racing for New South Wales in the women's eight where she finished second in the 2018 Queen's Cup. 

Later that same year, Georgina was selected make her international debut for Australia in the women's eight at the World Rowing Cup II in Austria, coming away with a bronze medal. A month later at the World Rowing Cup III, Georgina finished fifth.

Going into her second year of international rowing in 2019, Georgina had breakout performances as part of the Australia women's eight squad, coming away with a gold medal in the World Rowing Cup II and silver medals at both the World Rowing Cup III and World Rowing Championships.

After securing qualification for Tokyo 2020, Georgina made her Olympic debut at the delayed Games, finishing fifth in the final. 

In 2022, Georgina won gold in the women's eight at the World Rowing Cup III in Switzerland. In the following year, Georgina won gold again at the 2023 World Rowing Cup II, before securing Australia’s qualification in the women’s eight for Paris 2024 by finishing third at the World Rowing Championships.

Georgie attended Davidson High School – graduating in 2010, she then completed a Bachelor of Nursing from University of Technology Sydney (2013). She then commenced working at both Delmar Private hospital in Curl Curl and RSL Life Care ‘the war vets’ in Narrabeen looking after returned service men and women. Georgina still works whilst trying to train and compete internationally. 

Ruby Trew 

of North Narrabeen - born at Manly, Narrabeen Sports High School student, Skateboard - Park, Ruby's debut Games, age: 15

When her dad plonked Ruby Trew on a surfboard at the age of six months and pushed her into her first wave, he probably had no idea what an amazing ride he was starting her on.  Ruby’s father James, who emigrated from Wales to Sydney’s northern beaches in 1999 in search of a better life and better waves, had ignited her passion for surfing.

A few years later he did the same thing with skateboarding. “I started skateboarding when I was five,” Ruby said. “My dad bought a skateboard and I said I wanted to have a go and so I tried it and I liked it.”

Unable to choose between the two sports, she stuck with them both. By the age of six, Ruby was entering grom contests for both surfing and skateboarding and the successes started rolling in.

At 10, she was traveling overseas to compete in top-tier skating events, claiming silver in the women’s vert contest at the World Championships in Barcelona in 2019. 

In surfing, she became the 2019 NSW under-12 state champion and won the Oz Grom competition for under-12 girls at Lennox Head. This is among many first place wins in surfing competitions for the young surfer.

Ruby is now seen as a star of the future in two Olympic sports and has been targeted by the talent identification programs of both Surfing Australia and Skateboarding Australia.

Although Ruby rarely misses a chance to get out in the surf, her focus at the moment is on skateboarding.

At the 2022 Park Skateboarding World Championships, Ruby finished 10th, narrowly missing a place in the final.

Back in Australia she continued to work hard and in 2023 she won silver in the World Skateboarding Pro Tour event in San Juan, Argentina. The event featured 179 skateboarders all trying to claim ranking points towards qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

Ruby left her best until last, scoring an impressive 86.16 on her final run, giving her second place behind Tokyo bronze medallist Sky Brown of Britain.

Going to Paris means even more to Ruby after her chance to compete at the Tokyo Olympics was cruelly snatched away. 

Ruby was part of the Australian team competing in the United States in 2021, fighting for the final points she needed to qualify for the Games.

“I got to the semi-finals and then the coach got Covid-19 and a few other people got Covid before him and they had to disqualify us from the comp,” Ruby said.

“If I would have gotten to the finals I would have gone to Tokyo, but that is just the way it is. It was very disappointing. I had a lot to bring and I was super excited, but no one could do anything about it. It wasn’t their fault they got Covid, it just happened.

“I was pretty bummed for a few weeks, but then I decided to get over it and keep skating and moving on.”

To ensure she makes the most of her second Olympic opportunity, Ruby is concentrating on training – which means splitting her time between skating, surfing and school work.

She spends close to 40 hours a week either surfing, skating or at the gym – with her weekends consisting of a two-hour morning surf session, a three-hour skate, a gym session and another two hours of surfing or skating in the afternoon.

“(During the week) I wake up at around six and then get in the water for surfing around seven … to like 8.30am, get out, go to school at 9am,” Ruby said. “And then I might leave school at like 1.30pm and then go skate until maybe like 4pm, and then I might go for another surf or I might go for another skate after that and then wake up the next day and do the same thing over again.”

Ruby hopes to continue competing internationally in both her sports and after Paris she could switch her focus to the surf, aiming to win a place in the Australian team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“I would love to go and be on the World Championship Tour for surfing after the Paris Olympics,” she said. “I'd like to try and qualify for surfing (at the Olympics). Obviously trying to represent Australia is super hard because the girls are just amazing. But I guess I've just got to work hard and just try and improve both sports at the same time.”

Asked what advice she would give her younger self, Ruby shows a wisdom that belies her tender years “I would tell her, enjoy the journey along the way,” she said. “You never know what you can expect, so remember why you’re doing it, why you love it and who you’re doing it for.”

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Kristie Edwards 

of Newport - Junior club - Manly Warringah Little Athletics, Athletics - 4 x100m, her debut games, age: 24

A very talented sprinter through her teenage years Kristie Edwards has regularly won national medals. After debuting in the green and gold at the 2018 World U20 Championships, she transitioned well to senior competition as she negotiated the challenging pandemic years.

Aged eight Kristie Edwards had obvious talent, placing third in the NSW State PSSA Championships in her joggers.

“After that I thought I kind of like this athletics thing, so I joined Little Athletics at Manly Warringah the next year.” 

By 13 she won the National All Schools 200m in an impressive time of 24.52. Through her teenage years she improved every year in the 100m and 200m, and won many national medals.

A State-level netballer, she decided to close that part of her sporting life in 2016. The 2017-18 season would be her best so far. In December 2017, she won the nationals schools sprint double in PB times of 11.79 and 24.03. Three months later at the Commonwealth Games trials she finished an excellent fourth in the 100m. In March she was second in the 100m at the U20 Championships/Trials and was named in the 4x100m relay for Tampere, Finland. The relay placed an excellent 7th in the final and broke the Australian junior record.

In 2021 she moved to Brisbane and by the end of the year she had made a breakthrough in her times, down to 11.55 (100m) and 23.17 (200m). In 2022 she consolidated her new level, then in 2023 there was more progress in the 100m particularly, with a best of 11.44. Also in 2023 she ran on some quick Australian relay teams clocking mid-43 second times. In 2023 she was selected in two National teams – World University Games and World Championships.

In her Australian team senior debut at the World Uni Games in China, Kristie was terrific running three quality rounds placing fifth in the final in 23.54 after a 23.48 semi.

Kristie was a regular on the national 4x100m relay team competing in five countries. Highlights were two Diamond League runs, 5th at London and 3rd in Zurich where they clocked a season best of 43.21 – the 7th fastest in Australia history. Unfortunately, at the world championships the team did not finish.

During the 2024 domestic season Kristie lowered her 100m PB to 11.28 and ran on a national relay team clocking a quick 43.45.

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Sharni Smale (nee Williams) 

of Newport, Rugby Sevens, Sharni's third Olympics (2016, 2020), age: 36

Born and bred in Batlow NSW, Sharni Smale (nee Williams), one of Australia's best rugby players who has starred in both Sevens and 15s, has signed up for her third Olympic campaign. 

Sharni made her international debut in 2008 with the Rugby 15s, winning her first Australian cap against New Zealand. She went on to play at the 2010 Rugby Women’s World Cup in England, where the Wallaroos claimed the bronze medal. 

She was awarded ACT Rugby Rookie of the Year in 2008 and Australian Women's Player of the Year in 2010.

Sharni then made the switch to the sevens format in 2011 and played in every leg of the Women's Sevens World Series since its inception in November 2012, until injury ruled her out of the Sao Paulo Sevens in February 2016.

The NSW native made her Olympic debut at the Rio 2016 Games, where she was named co-captain of the Australian sevens team. In Rio, she led the team to victory, defeating New Zealand in the final to win the inaugural Rugby 7s Olympic gold medal. 

Sharni made a return to the 15-a-side game for the Wallaroos at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup, in Dublin, finishing fifth. That same year she received an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia), along with her Rio teammates, for services to sport.

In 2018, Sharni led the Australian team to a Commonwealth Games silver medal and a bronze medal at the Rugby World Cup in San Francisco.

Sharni made her second Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020, hoping to recreate the achievements of the previous iteration of the Games. Leading by example, Sharni contributed 26 points across the tournament, including group-stage tries against both China and the United States. This led the Aussies to a quarter-final clash against Fiji, where they would narrowly fall short in a tense match, ending 14-12.

Following this, the Australian’s bounced back and achieve victories over the ROC and United States (who they had lost to in the group stage) to achieve a fifth overall placing at the Games.

In 2022, Sharni helped Australia to a historic triple crown – the World Rugby Sevens Series title, Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham and the Rugby Sevens World Cup in South Africa, where she was named player of the match in the final against New Zealand.

Australia finished second in the 2022-23 World Rugby Sevens Series, with New Zealand taking the title. 

With the Australians performing strongly in the early stages of the 2023-24 series, Sharni is confident she has one more Olympic campaign in her.

"I'm still keeping pace with the emerging talent on the squad and I credit Tom Carter, our athletic performance guru, with my ability to do so,” she said. “I'm in the best shape of my life and it's thanks to him.

"There's nothing like the feeling of standing on the podium, of representing your country on the world stage - who wouldn't want to chase that one last time?

"Rugby Australia has been the backbone of my career for well over a decade now.

"I've moved back and forth between the XVs and the Sevens programs and learned different skill sets from both of them.

"For me, now, my journey forward is about inspiring that next generation of athletes, and I aim to do that through my actions. If you want to achieve something, you won't shy away from the hard work it will take to get you there. 

“That ethos is something I affirm when I show up to training every day."

Coach Tim Walsh describes the decision of the “matriarch of the program” to stay on for Paris as a “massive boost.”

"Sharni brings experience, professionalism and a world-class point of difference.

“Her laugh can be heard first thing on our 'Monday Ready' morning session and her bright smile is infectious on our 'Friday Strong' afternoons. Sharni is a veteran with the energy of a rookie."

Off the pitch, Sharni is a qualified motor mechanic and changed her name to Smale after marrying partner Mel Smale in 2023. In 2023, she was awarded the LGBTQ Out Role Model Award at the Pride in Sport Awards. The awards recognise exceptional efforts in making Australian sport more inclusive of LGBTQ people.

Sharni is a big supporter of and played for the Warringah Rats in 2020, and was also present to inspire the next generation at the Opening of the Newport Rugby facilities for women in 2023.

Jim Colley 

of Avalon Beach - former Barrenjoey High School student, Avalon Sailing Club and Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, 49er Sailing, debut games, age: 26

A father with a passion for sailing and a strong do-it-yourself ethos set Sydney 49er skiff sailor Jim Colley on a path to the Olympics. Jim’s dad built him a boat and taught him how to sail it – and two decades later he is headed for the waters off Marseille, where the Paris Games sailing events will take place, to compete in one of the most fast-paced and competitive classes.

“I started sailing at age five when dad built me a little timber boat in the backyard,” Jim said. “And after he taught me the basics, I floated around Pittwater for five years before trying my hand at racing.”

As a 10-year-old, Jim raced Manly Juniors at Avalon Sailing Club.

“Throughout my teens I began to compete domestically and internationally, which led to some amazing opportunities that helped shape the person I am today,” he said. “I transitioned into the Olympic classes at 19 and began to compete on the 49er circuit whilst completing my engineering degree.”

Jim began posting some significant results after teaming up with fellow Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club sailor Shaun Connor on the 49er circuit.

He lists the highlight of his career so far as a silver medal the pair won in 2023 at the prestigious Hyeres regatta in the south of France – a major event in the lead-up to Paris. The medal was even more remarkable given Jim was sick at the start of the regatta and unsure whether he would be able to race.

“It’s pretty cool, considering after the first day I didn’t think I could race, as I was ill with flu,” he said.

A win in the 49er class at the Sail Sydney regatta in December 2023 by Jim and Shaun ensured an Olympic quota for Australia.

"We're really happy to cap off the season with a win on home waters," Jim said. "We got four days of different conditions which was great. There were some light and shifty days early and some bigger breezes later in the week which kept racing really close among the Australian squad which is what we want."

Jim maintains his passion for sailing because of the lessons he continues to learn on and off the water.

“I love the sport because it provides the perfect avenue for me to learn and grow as a person,” he said. “It teaches you so many important lessons – not just about boat racing – that are invaluable in all aspects of life.”

Jim is studying mechanical engineering and has also run his own sailing coaching business for several years, helping to nurture the next generation of young sailors. He hopes this will lead him to a “dual-focussed career” in business and sailing.