The 75-strong squad is the biggest ever for an overseas Games and only bettered by Sydney 2000
Australia will bring an enormous team of 75 athletes to the Paris Olympics.
It will be the largest squad they’ve ever taken to an overseas Games, with the 82 athletes they had at Sydney 2000 being the greatest overall.
Australia will contest 39 of the 48 athletics events in Paris, ranging from the 100m and 200m to the inaugural marathon racewalk relay.
Out of the 75-strong cohort, there will be two athletes competing at their fourth Games, 13 at their third, 26 returning for a second Games and 34 athletes making their Olympic debut.
Australia will contest the heptathlon for the first time since Beijing 2008, while the team also includes both a men’s and women’s 4x100m relay squad. The last time that occurred was Sydney 2000.
There are many names to pick out but the women’s field will be spearheaded by Jessica Hull, who at the Paris Diamond League ran 3:50.83 in the 1500m to go fifth on the all-time list.
Australia, on the men’s side, also possess some of the most dangerous 1500m runners in the world, with Oli Hoare, Adam Spencer and Stewart McSweyn selected in the team.
The country isn’t short of quality in the field events either. Olympic silver high jump medallist Nicola Olyslagers and 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson will battle it out in Paris.
Double world javelin champion and Olympic bronze medallist Kelsey-Lee Barber aims to strike gold but she will have domestic competition from Mackenzie Little and Kathryn Mitchell.
Watch out for the likes of Matthew Denny in the discus, Chris Mitrevski in the long jump and Brandon Starc in the high jump as well.
Matt Denny (Getty)
“I am thrilled to announce the final 55 athletes for the Athletics team for Paris,” Anna Meares, Australian Olympic team Chef de Mission, said. “This is a talented squad, with the total 75-strong team the second biggest Australian Olympic Athletics squad in our history.
“This highlights the great depth nurtured across the country and I want to pay tribute to the entire team at Athletics Australia for delivering a high-performance program that is achieving outstanding results.
“The Athletics team is the largest of any sport and they will contribute greatly to the positive environment of the broader Australian Olympic Team.”
Athletics Australia CEO Peter Bromley is also confident about their chances in Paris.
“It is an incredibly proud moment to announce…
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