For the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 15 family members or friends of Australian Olympic Team members will be writing a blog for this website.
They will be keeping you up to date about the excitement and nerves of what it's like to cheer from home or in Rio for the Team.
Introducing them all:
Niki Rose – wife of Shane Rose (equestrian)
My name is Niki Rose – I’m a mother of four (including newborn twins!), equestrian athlete and business owner and manager. My husband is equestrian rider Shane Rose. We met through riding as we’ve both have competed at an elite level. We began running Bimbadeen Park together in 2003. I’m pictured here with Shane and our son Harry at the World Equestrian Games in 2014.
Matt Cooper – fiancé of Chloe Esposito (modern pentathlon)
My name’s Matt Cooper I’m a professional Facetimer and councillor to long distance fiancé Chloe. A Brit that has to surrender his allegiance to the UK and cheer on the Aussies in Modern Pentathlon come Rio. When not staying awake to watch results online in the middle of the night I work in events and pretend to be fitter than I really am.
Rosannah Snelson – girlfriend of Cameron Girdlestone (rowing)
My name is Rosannah Snelson and I’m the girlfriend of Cameron Girdlestone, who will be competing at his first Olympic Games in the Men's Quadruple Sculls rowing crew. I’m 25 years-old and live in Sydney, working for a health charity. I can't wait to get to Rio to soak up the atmosphere and cheer Cam and the other Aussie athletes on.
Dave Jones – dad of Aislin Jones (shooting)
Well it’s here! Almost… I’m Dave, but generally I just answer to or introduce myself as Aislin’s Dad. After what has been a pretty wild ride through life over the last few years, we’re nearly at the point dropping Aislin at the airport to depart for Rio where she'll represent Australia in Women’s Skeet. We’ll be following the whole Aussie team, but particularly the shooting team over the next few weeks. I’ll be dropping in from time to time to update you on the Olympics from a Lakes Entrance view point. Until then, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie…
Ella Walter – girlfriend of Mack Horton (swimming)
An impressive number of very special people make an Olympic Dream a very real reality. Honestly, I, and I'm sure many other devoting families and friends are flying to rio blindfolded. Amongst all the drama that inevitably surrounds the Olympic Games, all we can do is pin point moments which guide, prepare and excite us. After months of comfortable distance, August has loomed very swiftly. I farewelled my boyfriend Mack Horton, on the 16th of July, as he and the Australian Swim team started the end of their journey to Rio. I was overwhelmed with pride and joy for him and all the athletes that will make their Olympic dreams reality.
Ngaire Moran – friend of Tia-Clair Toomey (weightlifting)
I’m Ngaire Moran, 42 year old mother of 4. I’ve lived as a working ex-pat in New Zealand and Canada and returned home to Australia recently where I walked into a Crossfit gym to get fit and I found a wonderful friendship in Tia.
Dearne Baker – mother of Georgia Baker (cycling)
Hi my name is Dearne Baker and I am the extremely proud mum of Georgia Baker, a member of the women’s Team Pursuit. I have another daughter Phoebe and we live in Perth, Tasmania, where I have lived all of my life. Tassie is a wonderful place to grow up and obviously ride a bike.
My husband Patrick passed away suddenly last year, so this Olympic journey has definitely had its ups and downs for all of us.
We can't wait to get on the plane to Rio to cheer on Georgia and her team mates, go Aussies!
Rob and Kerrye Katz – father of Nathan and Joshua Katz (Judo)
Hi, I am Rob Katz, a 5th Dan in Judo and one of the National Coaches that has a supporting role in Rio. My 2 sons, who my wife Kerrye, also a 5th Dan and I have coached since they were 5 years old, have qualified for the Rio Olympic Team so we are particularly excited about these Games. For the past 12 months I retired as an Engineer / Procurement Manager and have spent more time travelling with the National Judo Team to various major qualifying events. Kerrye is a special needs teacher with a sports science degree who represented Australia at the Seoul Olympic Games where I was women’s coach. We are the head coaches of the boys’ club Budokan Judo Club Castle Hill Sydney. Kerrye will be writing the Judo blog with me.
Carlien Parahi – wife of Jesse Parahi (rugby sevens)
Recently married to Australian Rugby Sevens Player and Olympian Jesse Parahi, my name is Carlien. I’m off to Rio to support the Aussie 7s teams in their Olympic debut. We’ve founded Sense Rugby, an Occupational Therapy programme designed to help kids with special needs to share in the joy of team sport.
Annette Lavey – mum of Tessa Lavey (basketball)
I am a registered nurse and we have 3 other sons, Nick, Tim, Ben and Daniel. Tessa is the youngest of the four boys. Needless to say Tessa was a bit of a tomboy growing up. She was raised in "The Mallee' on a wheat farm before we moved to Casterton in the Western District of Victoria when she was starting secondary school. I am the disciplinarian of the family...not that Tessa needed much discipline! Her dad, Geoffery is the comedian, he worked very hard as a shearer, Tessa is Dads little girl! Tessa was a very quiet little girl with a stubborn streak. She was also a very happy little girl, she loved running, and when she was little would just run around the house on the farm for fun. She got locked in the chook yard (accidentally) one time and had the turkeys chasing her around for a while... she thinks that's why she can run fast!!
Amanda Main – fiancé of Grant Nel (diving)
Hi my name is Amanda Main. Grant and I have been together since 2013 and plan to get married in December this year after the Games. I have a background in Sports Science and Education and currently work for Gymnastics South Australia.
April Burnett – sister of Alyce Burnett (canoe/kayak)
My name’s April, I’m a 19-year-old student who was born into a family of sport super-fans. When I’m not telling people that I wasn't born in the fourth month, I can be found supporting my sister Alyce Burnett on the road to Rio.
Sue Gregson – mother of Ryan (athletics)
My name is Sue. I’ve been a stay at home Mum for the past 28 years. You could probably say that I am retired now! Steve, my husband, is company Vice President for a global manufacturing business. Ryan is my only son. He will officially be a dual Olympian when he takes to the 1500m track in Rio having previously represented Australia in London. Genevieve LaCaze, Ryan’s partner, will also soon be a dual Olympian. She will be competing in the 3000m Steeplechase and the 5000m.
Greg Tish – boyfriend of Danielle Prince (gymnastics)
Hi I’m Greg, Danni’s boyfriend, engineer, cyclist, climber, and recent rhythmic gymnastics enthusiast. The first serious competition I experienced live was the 2016 Australian National Championships, and I think it shaved a few years off my life span!
Tony Watts – Uncle of Shelley Watts (boxing)
Hi my name’s Tony Watts and I’m the uncle of 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Shelley Watts. Shelley is just shy of completing a double degree (one in law) at university and will be going for gold in the 60kg division.
Claire Brinkman - Mum of Maddie Groves (swimming)
Hi! My name is Claire Brinkman and I am Mum to Maddie Groves, who is competing in her first Olympics. Maddie will be swimming the 100 and 200 Fly in Rio. I live in Brisbane, and am married to Peter. Between us, we have five children. I am so proud of Maddie and all that she has accomplished, and I cannot wait to sit poolside in Rio and cheer for her and all the Aussies. On the way to Rio, Peter and I have had an amazing holiday, firstly in Peru and then in the Galapagos Islands. It has been a good way to keep the nerves at bay -- lucky it is not me who is doing the swimming! I have been keeping up to date with all the Olympic news via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and cannot wait for the Games to begin. Go Maddie and all the swimmers and all the Aussies too!
