Caitlin Parker (Boxing), Eileen Cikamatana (Weightlifting), Laura Paeglis (Archery), Jayden Lawrence (Wrestling), Nicholas Lum (Table Tennis) and Uros Nikolic (Judo) will each receive US$8,333 in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to maximise their high-performance plan over the Paris quad.

Funded through the IOC Solidarity program, the athletes were nominated by their National Federations and selected based on their athletic achievement and dedication to competing at the highest level.

Paeglis is a Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympian, with Parker a 2014 Youth Olympic bronze medallist and 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist. Cikamatana is a multiple junior world record holder and 2018 Commonwealth Games champion, Lum is a two-time Australian Junior Table Tennis Player of the Year, Lawrence a two-time Commonwealth Games representative and Nikolic has medalled at Asian and European Junior Championships.

Parker is the only Australian recipient to have competed at Tokyo 2020, with the remaining five athletes aiming to make their Olympic debut in Paris.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll welcomed the IOC funding, helping Australian athletes pursue their Paris Olympic dreams.

“Congratulations to Caitlin, Eileen, Laura, Jayden, Nicholas and Uros on being selected as Olympic Scholarship recipients for Paris 2024,” Mr Carroll said.

“Chasing an Olympic dream takes incredible determination and talent - these six athletes have all demonstrated they have what it takes. But they also need support to train, compete and maximise their performance opportunities around the world to provide the best opportunity to represent Australia at the Paris Games.

“This scholarship funding will help these athletes build towards their Olympic goal. Thank you to the IOC, this support makes a real difference for athletes as they strive to represent Australia in Paris.”

22-year-old Eileen Cikamatana has already shown outstanding talent, winning multiple weightlifting World Cup gold medals for Australia over the past two years in the 81kg division.

Cikamatana said the scholarship is a major boost for her pursuit of a debut Olympics.

“I feel very honoured to have been selected for this scholarship,” Cikamatana said. “For me it means that my performances, hard work and sacrifices have been recognised and that I am worthy of assistance.

“I know there are so many excellent athletes in Australia, I am so grateful I have been chosen.

“To represent Australia in Paris would be a dream come true. This scholarship reduces my concern of costs associated with training, travelling locally and internationally, competing and frequent replacement of training gear – I can stay focused and fully committed to be the best I can be.

“It means I can enter as many tournaments as I can between now and 2024 and compete against likely opponents I will meet in Paris, to keep my competitive spirit at a high level.”

West Australian boxer Caitlin Parker said her experience at Tokyo has her even more focused for Paris.

“It feels amazing to have my potential recognised and for this scholarship to support my road to Paris 2024,” Parker said.

“I have so much to prove. In Paris, I’m coming for everything, and I’m pouring absolutely everything I’ve got into these next few years.

“I’m so grateful for this scholarship, it will help my performance, my mental wellbeing, and allow me to focus fully on training with that support and the flexibility to do what I need to be at my absolute best.

“The coming years are jam packed with major tournaments, training camps and opportunities to continuously learn and improve. My Olympic journey is just starting, I’ve had a lot of experience, I know what I need to work on and what it takes to get there, and I’m so grateful to have this scholarship to support me all the way.”

More information on IOC Solidarity Funding can be found here.