The Australian Olympic Pathway School designation looks to boost opportunities for students to excel in both their sporting and academic careers with a key focus on creating the next generation of Australian Olympians.

Dual Olympian Casey Dellacqua said it's really special for a local school to receive this type of recognition.

“To be able to have students walk into their school and see the Olympic Rings up on the wall, it's pretty inspiring,” Casey said.

“I know for myself it would’ve been the ultimate dream to go to a school that had this type of pathway in place.”

“You never know what life is going to throw at you, whether that's injury or circumstance, so I think having schools understand and recognise the importance of both your academic and sporting commitments is critical in raising and educating well-rounded human beings.”

Current year 10 student and 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Team member Gwendolyn Ellis said Matraville Sports High School has helped her on her road to the Youth Olympic Games and looks forward to the continued support this partnership will bring.

“I think it's great my school has received this designation from the Australian Olympic Committee,” Gwendolyn said.

“I think it will allow students to continue pursuing their dreams and strive to be the best in their chosen sports.”

The school has produced a great range of Australia’s top sporting stars, including Tokyo 2020 Rugby 7s athlete Maurice Longbottom, and becomes the seventh NSW Sports High School to receive this unique designation.

Matraville Sports High School relieving principal William ‘Billy’ Lundon said through this partnership, the school will look to continue developing Olympic athletes in the years to come.

“For us as a school, it’s an amazing opportunity for our students to see real life Olympians and to see how they have achieved so much, especially people from within our school community,” Billy said.

“We already try to support as many athletes as possible and if this is an extra way we can support students to excel in sport, then we want to try do that as much as possible."

“We now have the Olympic Rings on our gym and at the school's entrance, so I think as soon as you enter the school it is clear to see that we are an Australian Olympic Pathway School,” he continued.

“The Olympic Rings mean more than sport, it’s about bringing people together and being inclusive, and that is something we try to do as a school as well.”

Special guests in attendance on the day included Roger Davis, President of NSW Sports High School Association, Nic Accaria, Director Educational Leaderships NSW Education Department, and sporting school alumni Russel Fairfax, Glen Ella, Garry Ella and Marcia Ella-Duncan OAM.

Find out more about Australian Olympic Pathway Schools here.

Matraville Sports High School becomes seventh Australian Olympic Pathway School