As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games kick off tonight (see how to watch the opening ceremony here), South Australia is represented by a strong contingent of athletes who are part of the Australian Olympic Team. Australia’s total team includes 460 athletes, and 45 of these competitors are either natives of South Australia or honed their skills and trained in the region during this Olympic cycle.
The South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) has played a critical role in the development of many athletes headed to Paris. Out of the South Australian participants, 37 are either current scholarship holders or graduates of SASI. The support provided through SASI’s funding, elite performance services and daily training environments has been invaluable in preparing these athletes for the global stage.
Notable mentions include basketball star Joe Ingles, who is participating in his fifth Olympics, and cyclist Matthew Glaetzer and shooter Dane Sampson, both attending their fourth. The games also mark a significant chapter in the careers of 12 South Australian athletes competing in their third Olympics and another dozen in their second. Meanwhile, 18 athletes from South Australia will be making their Olympic debut in Paris.
Among those, marathon runner Jess Stenson is set to participate in her third Olympics. She remarkably qualified for the team only seven months postpartum, achieving a personal best at the Daegu Marathon.
Local boxer Callum Peters aims to become the first Australian boxer to secure a gold medal at the Paris Games. Peters, hailing from Davoren Park, is one of two Aboriginal boxers on the Australian team.
Zachery Schubert, is making his Olympic debut in beach volleyball after overcoming challenging injuries, adding to the list of inspiring stories from SA athletes.
Further strenthening the South Australian presence in Paris, SASI’s Hockey Head Coach, Hugh Purvis, will assist the Hockeyroos as an Assistant Coach and Performance Analyst Tim Rawlins will lend his skills to the Dolphins swim team.
Clare Scriven, Acting Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing said, “Congratulations to our South Australian/SASI athletes who have been selected to represent Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – we are proud of the efforts and dedication they have put in to achieve this incredible feat.” She also highlighted that “the Olympics inspire our community and it’s fantastic to see younger South Australians getting excited for the games and be inspired to chase their own sporting dreams.”
Keren Faulkner, SASI Director, praised the athletes and outlined the positive impact of SASI’s holistic support. “I’m so proud of these selected athletes and the role that SASI plays in supporting athletes to reach pinnacle sporting events – our tailored holistic training programs delivered by the best coaches and supported by the most qualified science and health experts is a recipe for success!” Faulkner noted. “Seeing our athletes excel on the world stage brings pride and joy to South Australians, spreading values of sportsmanship, hard work, and community, while also promoting healthy living.”
Find out more about the Australian Olympic Team on the AOC website and view the Paris 2024 South Australian Olympians on the SASI website.
Subscribe on the SASI website to receive daily updates about SA Olympians’ results and when to watch them in action.
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