Published Sat 03 Jul 2021 – The Australian Olympic Committee has announced the final team selection for the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo, with 36 track and field athletes joining the 27 previously announced athletes to complete the 63-strong Athletics squad.

Only Sydney 2000 (87) and Melbourne 1956 (75) have had bigger Australian Olympic Athletics teams.

The 36 athletes announced today includes Jeff Riseley making his fourth Olympics, Kathryn Mitchell, Dave McNeill and Henry Frayne returning for their third Games, 10 athletes returning for their second Games and 22 Olympic debutants. Full squad list of 63 Athletics representatives below

Riseley joins previously selected Tokyo 2020 teammates Dani Stevens and Lisa Weightman in equalling the most Olympics by Australian Athletics representatives, with seven other athletes including marathon legends Robert de Castella and Lisa Ondieki.

Today’s announcement takes the number of athletes selected to the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo to 473. A final team announcement and media conference will be held on Monday 5 July, with full details to come tomorrow.

Ian Chesterman, Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team, congratulated the athletes on today’s selection.

“With athletes facing so many obstacles and challenging to qualification and competition throughout this Olympic cycle, it is fantastic to send our biggest ever Athletics team to an away Games,” Mr Chesterman said.

“To have so many athletes qualify is a great reflection of their commitment and persistence. It also speaks volumes of the tremendous support from their coaches, families, friends and Athletics Australia. The depth and talent we have in Australian athletics is exciting.

“With 63 athletes this is the biggest section of the Team and they will bring great energy to the group in the second week of the Games.

“Well done to all the athletes announced today, I look forward to seeing you in Tokyo in just a few short weeks.”

Rio Olympian Annaliese Rubie-Renshaw will compete in the 4x400m relay in Tokyo.

“It hasn’t sunk in that I’ve finally been selected; it feels surreal” Rubie-Renshaw said. “It’s been a long wait, but it’s exciting too. I feel the longer you wait, the more special it feels to be selected onto a team.

“Before Rio, I had the benefit of being selected early on, so it’s been really different this time around. I’m doing my final preparation at home, and when the Games start we’ll still be in Australia.

“I haven’t competed on an Australian team since 2018 due to a few injuries, so I’m most looking forward to walking into the stadium, whether there is a crowd or there is no crowd, because after this time away, it will be really special to wear the green and gold again.

“Being in a relay team is always a special experience, coming from an individual sport. You’re part of a team – not just part of the Australian Olympic Team, but the relay team and you’re sharing such a special moment with others. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s possible after doing so well in Rio.”

Discus thrower Matt Denny returns for his second Olympics, securing his selection with a personal best throw.

“I was so happy to throw a PB so close to Tokyo especially considering we have a lot of freshening up to do to get into peak form, so I’m very excited about the form I potentially could get into,” Denny said.

“I’m really just looking forward to finally competing again. It’s been a long time between drinks when it comes to competing internationally, so I’m hanging out to get back in the ring. The past few years have had a lot of learning curves, but it’s nice to have learnt them ahead of Tokyo.”

Athletics Australia CEO Peter Bromley welcomed today’s finalisation of the team for Tokyo.

“With just weeks to go until the Tokyo Games finally begin, it’s incredibly exciting to see 36 more athletes announced to the Australian Olympic Athletics Team,” Bromley said.

“What’s more exciting is the real mix of experience we have in this fourth wave selected. We have 14 Olympians joining the team once again, including Jeff Riseley who will add Olympics number four to his list of achievements, and 22 debutants, all of whom have made a lasting impression on the Australian athletics community, including our youngest athlete on the team, 18-year-old Ellie Beer. This highlights to me that the future of athletics in our country is strong and bright.”

“It’s not only these athletes we must congratulate today. Each of them has a great support system around them, including coaches, support staff and their families and friends who have all buoyed them up to make this happen.

“We have a big few weeks ahead as our team now goes into camp to put the finishing touches on their final preparations, but I’m looking forward to seeing all 63 Australian track and field representatives put their work from over the last five years into action.”

Note a non-nominated athlete is appealing their non-nomination. That process is being followed.

The Athletics competition will run from 30 July – 8 August at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium for track and field, and Sapporo Odori Park for road events. 

Newly selected members of the Australian Olympic Athletics Team for Tokyo: 

Posted: 3/7/2021

Previously selected athletes for the Australian Olympic Athletics Team for Tokyo:

Posted: 3/7/2021

Source: Athletics Australia

Steeplechaser added to the Australian Olympic Athletics Team for Tokyo

Published Wed 07 Jul 2021

Steeplechaser Matthew Clarke has been selected for the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo by the Australian Olympic Committee. 

Clarke came achingly close to securing a Tokyo qualifying time of 8.22.00, clocking 8.22.62 and 8.22.13 runs in June just days before the qualification deadline closed, leaving him just one spot out of the world ranking qualification berths for Tokyo.

A withdrawal this week of a foreign athlete however has rekindled Clarke’s Olympic dream, with the 26-year-old South Australian securing the roll down quota and booking his ticket to Tokyo.

Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team Ian Chesterman welcomed the athletes to the Team.

“Congratulations to Matthew on making the Team for Tokyo and making his Olympic debut,” Mr Chesterman said.

“We are thrilled to have another highly dedicated athlete on the Australian Olympic Team and we know they will represent Australia, their sport, teammates and families with distinction.“

Today’s announcement takes the number of athletes selected for the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo to 474.

Clarke’s inclusion further adds to Australia’s biggest ever Athletics team for an overseas Olympics, bringing the squad to 64.

“It’s so surreal to not only be selected but for it to have happened the way it did,” Clarke said.

“I woke up this morning and asked my girlfriend if the selection was real or a dream. I couldn’t comprehend it, but it is a real dream come true to be going to the Olympics.”

“I came so close to the automatic qualifier in the last few days before the qualification deadline. The top 45 are offered spots to compete at the Olympics, and after the roll down I was ranked number 46 which was heartbreaking. It’s a one in a thousand chance that someone would pull out.

“When I saw my phone ringing, I had a butterfly feeling inside my stomach but when Athletics Australia told me that they had some good news, I started crying.”

Clarke will travel to Cairns for the Australian Olympic Athletics Team staging camp this Saturday.

Name	Event	Coach	Olympic Games	Suburb	State	Home Club	Little Athletics Centre
Matthew Clarke	3000m Steeplechase	Adam Didyk	Debut	North Adelaide	SA	LaTrobe University	Box Hill Little Athletics Centre

By the Australian Olympic Committee
Posted: 7/7/2021