Have A Go Olympic Challenge 2024

HAVE A GO AT OLYMPIC SPORTS

FIND YOUR SPORT
Background image

Matildas waltz through Team Processing

 

Matildas waltz through Team Processing

Author image
AOC
Matildas waltz through Team Processing

After claiming Australia's first Asian Cup title in 2010, Australia's women's football team are in superb form looking towards this year's World Cup and ultimately the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Gathered at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for a training camp

After claiming Australia's first Asian Cup title in 2010, Australia's women's football team are in superb form looking towards this year's World Cup and ultimately the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Gathered at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for a training camp, the Matildas today went through the Australian Olympic Committee's Team Processing session, readying them for what will hopefully be a successful 2012 Olympic Campaign.

One of Australia's hottest sportswomen of the moment Ellyse Perry, was at the session as she attempts to qualify for her first Olympic Team.

"It was really exciting today to go through the initial process," 20-year-old Perry said.

"It's great to get a feel for what is an absolutely tremendous event and what is an awesome celebration of sport across the globe."

"A lot of people aspire to be a part of this [the Games] and myself and our football group is no different."

Perry is in a unique position balancing football not just with work and study as the other athletes do - but with a joint interest as a member of the Australian cricket team.

"I love playing both cricket and football," she said.

"I feel so fortunate to be in the position where both sports give me the support to pursue both. Certainly this year is really exciting for soccer, and I'm enjoying my training in Canberra with the national squad so that is my focus for now."

Perry and the other footballers have a blockbuster year ahead of themselves, with the World Cup starting in June in Germany and the Olympic qualifying tournament kicking off after that.

As part of the Asian confederation, the group of young, vibrant athletes certainly have a job ahead of them.

"It's not going to be easy to qualify, that's for sure," 2004 Olympian Sally Shipard said. "We have back to back games against Japan, Korea and they're some of the best teams in the world."

While they will have a tough task just to qualify for London, the team certainly have the drive and athleticism to make it.

The team will remain in camp at the AIS until Sunday and will continue to train as a group every few weeks until the Cup kicks off in June.

Alice Wheeler
AOC

Top Stories