The Australian Olympic Team is full of fresh legs this year with more than 270 debutants making up the 421-strong squad.
Their enthusiasm and form has already been noted with outstanding performances across recent national and international competiitons. This has been the perfect preparation for what will be the biggest moment of their professional sporting career to date.
Meet some of Australia’s youngest medal contenders and be inspired by their incredible achievements at such an early stage of life.
Henry Hutchison, 19, rugby sevens
Henry Hutchison’s career with the national rugby sevens squad started in late 2015 after he catapulted from the Australian Schoolboys and U20s level straight to the senior line-up. His efforts during the 2015/16 World Series were critical, scoring 27 tries and eventually being named World Rugby Sevens Rookie of the Year. In Rio the Australian squad are chasing gold on behalf of the entire national rugby fraternity in what is the Olympic debut of the sevens format.
First event: Australia v France (Men’s Pool B), Tuesday 9 August, 11am (local time)
Emma Tonegato, 21, rugby sevens
To date, Emma Tonegato has helped the Australian women’s rugby sevens squad achieve two significant milestones: becoming the first Australian side to win a World Series title and qualifying a berth at the inaugural Olympic Games rugby sevens competition. In April she was named Most Valuable Player of the World Series in Atlanta, scoring 10 tries across the tournament. Having won the World Series the women’s side are the team to beat in Rio.
First event: Australia v Colombia (Women’s Pool A), Saturday 6 August, 1.30pm (local time)
Minjee Lee, 20, golf
Former world number one amateur Minjee Lee has made her mark on the LPGA Tour in a very short time. Lee finished the Rio qualification period 12th, and has claimed two LPGA titles in 18 months: the Tour event in Hawaii this April, and Virginia in May last year. Graduating to pro ranks has proved fruitful for Lee, making 26 starts for her two victories, and now she hopes to round out the transition with a medal in Rio.
First event: Women’s Round 1, Wednesday 17 August, from 7.30am (local time)
Ellie Carpenter, 16, women’s football
Ellie Carpenter is accustomed to being the youngest athlete in the room. She was the youngest player in the domestic W-League competition when she debuted for the Western Sydney Wanderers at age 15, she is the first millennial to represent an Australian senior national football side and she is the youngest athlete on the entire Australian Olympic team. Carpenter is a strong defensive midfielder and Australia are sure to be hungry for victory in their first Olympic berth since the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Certainly one to watch.
First event: Canada v Australia, Women’s First Round Group F, Wednesday 3 August from 3pm (local time)
Kyle Chalmers, 18, swimming
Sprinter Kyle Chalmers made waves at the Australian Swimming Championships in April, finishing second in the 100m freestyle (48.03) behind Cam McEvoy. The lad from Port Lincoln has swam competitively since age nine, and has some impressive junior titles to his name. Chalmers will compete in the 100m freestyle men’s event and the 4 x 100m freestyle men’s relay, giving him two considerable opportunities at a place on the podium.
First event: Men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay, heats, Sunday 7 August, 3.05pm (local time)
Mack Horton, 20, swimming
After narrowly missing out on selection for the 2012 London Olympic Games squad, Mack Horton will be sure to fight hard for a medal using the past four years’ experience and preparation. Horton is competing in the Australian favourite 1500m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 4 x 200m freestyle and takes the national legacy of the long distance events very seriously. Claiming silver at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Horton has a good shot at adding to his collection in Rio.
First event: Men’s 400m freestyle, Saturday 6 August, 1.48pm (local time)
James Willett, 20, shooting
James Willett only picked up double trap shooting in 2015 making his selection in the Australian Olympic Team even more impressive. He won the Rio test event and secured bronze at the 2016 World Cup event in Cyprus, while he previously set a junior world record shotting 142/150 targets when he made his World Cup debut. At the 2015 World Championships Willett chose to compete in the senior event despite still being a junior – narrowly missing out on the bronze medal - demonstrating his tenacity and determination to make a mark on the shooting world.
First event: Double Trap Men’s qualification, Wednesday 10 August, 9am (local time)
Patrick Constable, 21, cycling - track
The lead-up to Rio has been exciting for track cyclist Patrick Constable, winning his first World Cup gold medal by defeating the reigning Olympic gold medallist Jason Kenny of England in the semi-final. At his first senior World Championships Constable competed in the team sprint with Matt Glaetzer and Nathan Hart, just missing out on the chance to race for the bronze medal. Constable will line up for the men’s keiren, sprint and team sprint, again alongside Glaetzer and Hart, in Rio.
First event: Men’s Team Sprint qualifying, Thursday 11 August, 4pm (local time)
Blake Govers, 20, hockey
Blake Govers made his senior Australian squad debut only 12 months ago and now he is excited to be lining up for the Olympics. He was a member of the National Development squad when he was called up for the Olympic training squad to make his international debut in May 2015 at the Hobart International Challenge. Australia’s men’s hockey team has a proud history of winning medals, claiming gold at 2004 Athens and bronze at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games.
First event: Australia v New Zealand (Men’s Pool A), Saturday 6 August, 1.30pm (local time)
Maddison Keeney, 20, diving
Maddison Keeney has finished in the top six on four occasions in the 2016 World Series. She was the stand out performer at the Australian Open Championships in May finishing first in the 3m springboard and the 3m synchro alongside Annabelle Smith. The pair claimed bronze at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games where Keeney also won silver in the 1m springboard. Keeney is one of nine athletes representing Australia in diving in Rio.
First event: Women’s synchronised 3m springboard (final), Sunday 7 August, 4pm (local time)
Candice Keller
olympics.com.au
