Australia’s seven-strong throws contingent includes Matthew Denny, who, after fourth in Tokyo, has aspirations for a Paris 2024 podium. Mackenzie Little is in career-best form and leads the terrific women’s javelin trio.
Australia has won three medals in throws events at the Olympic Games, with Kelsey-Lee Barber’s bronze in Tokyo following Atlanta 1996 Olympic javelin silver medallist Louise Currey and Barcelona 1992 Olympic discus bronze medallist Daniela Costian.
Australia’s seven-strong throws contingent may only be a fraction of the 75-strong Athletics team at Paris 2024. Still, the weight of their collective success sees them among our best chances at Stade de France when competition commences in the stadium on Friday 2 August 2024.
The charge will be led by national discus record holder Matthew Denny, who arrives in the French capital with a new personal best of 69.35 metres and aspirations for a podium finish after placing fourth in the men’s Discus Throw at both the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Joining Matthew in the thrower’s circle are Taryn Gollshewsky and Stephanie Ratcliffe. The duo are making their Olympic debut in the Women’s Discus Throw and Women’s Hammer Throw respectively.
Taryn is a bronze medallist at the World University Games. Stephanie is a Harvard University graduate who first donned the green and gold at the World Athletics Championships last year.

Not to be outdone are the four selected javelin throwers taking to the runway in both the men’s and women’s events.
The women’s trio is headlined by Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Kelsey-Lee Barber, as four-time Olympian Kathryn Mitchell and world championships bronze medallist Mackenzie Little get set to join her. All three throwers made the final in Tokyo and will be looking to repeat that sensational performance in 2024.
Kelsey-Lee, coached by her husband Mike Barber, is a clutch major event performer. Her trophy cabinet features not only her Olympic medal but the 2019 and 2022 world crowns and three Commonwealth Games medals, including gold at Birmingham 2022. Her third Olympic campaign has been hampered by injury, but Kelsey is known for producing brilliance.
Kathryn is also coached by her husband, the former javelin world record holder Uwe Hohn, and she has placed among the top-eight at three Olympic Games and won gold at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018 with an Australian record throw of 68.92m. She has competed sparingly in 2024 and will be looking to rediscover her best form in Paris at her fourth Olympics.
Mackenzie has been in career-best form throwing a personal best of 66.27m to take gold at the London Diamond League on 20 July. She has the second biggest throw in the world this year and continues to make her presence felt on the world stage following her bronze at Budapest 2023 (63.38 metres). She descends on Paris 2024 balancing her extensive training with gruelling shifts as a doctor at Royal North Shore Hospital, after graduating from the University of Sydney in 2023.
In the Men’s Javelin Throw, Cameron McEntyre will fly the flag on Olympic debut, having previously thrown at two World Athletics Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The last time an Australian made the final of this event was Jarrod Bannister at Beijing 2008.
Ones to Watch
Australian
Discus thrower Matthew Denny aspires to become the first Australian male to win a medal in a throws event at the Olympic Games.
At 27, Mackenzie is the junior of the highly credentialled Australian women’s trio. Mackenzie has proven she can produce a throw that could get her on the Olympic podium. Tokyo bronze medallist Kelsey-Lee is a major meet performer. Kathryn, is a three-time finalist who could join Kelsey-Lee and Louise as an Olympic medallist via a strong performance at Paris 2024.
International
Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania arrives at Paris 2024 as the world record holder for the men’s Discus Throw after a 74.35m throw in April 2024.
Japan’s Hiruka Kitaguchi and Colombian Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado are ranked best in the world in the women’s Javelin Throw, with Mackenzie hot on their heels in third.
Sport Format
A three-throw qualification round, with the top-12 athletes advancing to the final.
All 12 competitors have three initial throws in the final, with the top-eight afforded an additional three throws based on rankings after three rounds to determine the winner.
Competition Schedule
Track and field will be held at Stade de France from 2-10 August, with the first Australian thrower in action being Taryn Gollshewsky in the women’s discus qualification in the evening of Saturday 2 August in Paris.
In road events, the Race Walk Mixed Relay will be held on Wednesday 7 August.
The Men’s and Women’s Marathon will be held on 10 and 11 August.
Watch all events live and free on 9 and 9Now.
Cody Lynch