Emma McKeon is Australia’s most successful Olympic medallist, equalling the world mark of seven (7) medals at one Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020 and bettering the Australian record by securing her 11th career Olympic medals at those Games.

AOC President Ian Chesterman says the magnitude of McKeon’s impact on the Olympic movement and Australian sport has been extraordinary.

“Emma deserves every accolade. She is a champion among champions. Her passion and competitiveness is belied by her calm humility. Australians have every right to be very proud of her.

“When you consider the breadth and depth of Australia’s Olympic history since Athens 1896, to stand unrivalled as our greatest champion is quite remarkable. And more exciting for us all, she is not finished yet, with Paris beckoning this year. She is a great Australian, a wonderful role model and a worthy winner of this honour,” he said.

AOC Vice President and Olympic fencer Evelyn Halls OAM, Atlanta Olympian and President of Baseball Australia David Hynes OAM, dual hockey Olympian and current AOC Athlete’s Committee member Rachael Lynch OAM, and the late Rick Mitchell OAM, three-time Olympic sprinter, have also been honoured with an Order of Australia.

Ian Chesterman says all four were acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to the sports they loved.

“Rick Mitchell’s family and former teammates can be rightly proud that he has received this posthumous recognition as an Olympic silver medallist and three times Olympian. Rick’s silver in Moscow was the last individual men’s running medal by an Australian at an Olympic Games. He also set a Commonwealth record with that run. After retirement Rick devoted himself to sports administration, business interests and mentoring. In 2011, Rick was inducted into the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame. Sadly, he passed away in 2021 having made a wonderful contribution to his sport.

“Evelyn Halls continues to serve the Olympic movement in outstanding fashion. An Australian champion fencer and Olympian in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, Evelyn played a crucial role as Deputy Chef de Mission at Tokyo 2020 in ensuring our athletes could compete in those very difficult circumstances during the global pandemic. She has served her sport as President of Australian Fencing and was Chef de Mission of the Australian Team at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018.

“David Hynes pursued his great passion for baseball. The first-ever sports scholarship holder at Sydney University, David went on to be our top hitter at the Atlanta 1996 Games, including scoring a home run. Post playing career David has served as President of Baseball Australia since 2012, giving back to the sport he loves. Like so many Olympians, David first dreamed of representing Australia in athletics, but his Olympic dream came in baseball.

“Rachael Lynch has twice kept goal at Olympic Games – Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. We are extremely grateful for Rachael’s continued contribution as a very active member of the AOC Athletes’ Commission since 2021. In the same year Rachael was recognised by the World Olympians Association, inducted into the 2020 Olympians for Life program. She is Australia’s most capped goalkeeper, winning two Commonwealth Games gold medals.”

Mr Chesterman also acknowledged Michael Bushell AM. 

“Mike oversaw the AOC’s successful commercial program for more than forty years, which has generated the funding to ensure the AOC is able to realise the Olympic dreams of so many Australian athletes.

“We could not do what we do without the generous support of our Partner family. Mike has been instrumental over decades in connecting enthusiastic sponsors with the Olympic movement. His passion for sport and his expert commercial advice have been so valuable to the AOC over such a long period. We say thanks and congratulations,” Mr Chesterman concluded.