By Greg Blood

This article endeavours to provide insights into the 2024 Australian Olympic Team. Olympian characteristics provide insights into the Olympian “runway”, their likely period in competing at the highest level and their likely employment post their Olympic athletic career.

With Brisbane being selected to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we frequently read about the “green and gold runway”. Based on 2024 Australian Olympic Team, approximately 15 % of the team will be selected for the 2032 – this percentage could increase with many current athletes desire to compete at a home Games.

Contents

Introduction

In 1982, I came across a study into the social class of the 1972 Australian Olympic Team (Ref 1) and it has sparked my long-term interest into the characteristics of Australian Olympic Team members. Since the 1972 study, resources for Olympic athletes have significantly increased through the establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and state institutes/academies, increased Australian and state government high performance sport funding and the professionalisation of many Olympic sports.

In 2016, I researched and published data on the Rio Australian Olympics Team and it was decided to replicate this research for the 2024 Australian Olympic Team to see whether there is continuity in the characteristics of modern Australian Olympic Teams.

Methodology used was similar in the 2016 and 2024 analysis.

General – Age, Gender, State

Gender Analysis

• Female: Paris 256 athletes (55.6%), Tokyo – 261 (53.7%), Rio – 214 (50.7%), London 186 (48.1%), Beijing 200 (45.9%), Athens 208 (45.4%), Sydney 283 (44.8%)
• Male: Paris- 204 athletes (44.4 %), Tokyo – 225 (44.3%), Rio – 208 (49.3 %), London – 224 (51.9 %), Athens – 274 (54.6 %), Sydney – 349 (55.2 %)

Comment: Increase in female athletes due to equalisation of events, qualification of artistic swimming team and the non-qualification of men’s football team (18 athletes).

Age Groups – Average age: 26.45

• 14 to 19:  35 athletes  (7.7% – Rio 5.5%) – athletes at Brisbane 2032 ?
• 20 to 24: 140 athletes (30.4% –Rio 40.1%) – athletes at Brisbane 2032 ?
• 25 to 30: 198 athletes (43.0%- –Rio 33.9%)
• 31 to 34: 59 athletes (12.9%  – Rio 14.0%)
• 35 to 39: 20 athletes (4.3%  – Rio 2.9%)
• 41 to 49: 7 athletes (1.5%  – Rio 1.9%)
• 50 + : 1 athletes (0.2% – Rio 1.7% )

Comment: Introduction of skateboarding and breaking sports and qualification of artistic swimming have increased number of younger athletes.

State/Territory

State breakdown: NSW – 140 athletes ; QLD – 121 ; VIC – 102 ; WA – 46 ; SA 28 ; ACT – 9 ; ACT – 9 ; NT – 2

Comment: High number of swimmers based in Queensland has allowed it to have a greater number of athletes than Victoria. Numbers for each state can be problematic as athletes move states in their careers and may not be accurately reflected..

Previous Olympic Medallists

This information assists in determining the “quality’ of the team based on previous Olympic performances of athletes. It also may reflect the funding to keep Olympians competing at the highest level.

Previous Gold Medallists – 27 athletes

• Canoeing – 2020: Thomas Green, Jean van der Westhuyzen, Jessica Fox
• Cycling- 2020: Logan Martin
• Rowing – 2020: Annabelle McIntyre, Jessica Morrison, Lucy Stephan, Jack Hargreaves, Alexander Hill, Alexander Purnell, Spencer Turrin
• Rugby 7’s – 2016: Charlotte Caslick, Sharni Williams
• Sailing – 2020: Matthew Wearn
• Shooting – 2016: Catherine Skinner
• Skateboarding – 2020: Keegan Palmer (2000)
• Swimming – 2016: Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon Kyle Chalmers ;  2020: Bronte Campbell, Meg Harris*, Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan*, Ariarne Titmus, Briana Throssell*, Zac Stubblety-Cook    *relay heat    

Comment: Australia won 17 gold at 2020 Olympics with including several swimming relay teams and rowing crews and this has led to a high number of gold medallists being selected. Six gold medallists were from 2016 Olympics.

No of Previous Olympic Medallists by Sport – 59 athletes

• Athletics: 3 athletes
• Basketball: 9 athletes
• Beach volleyball: 2 athletes
• Boxing: 1 athlete
• Canoeing: 3 athletes
• Cycling: 4 athletes
• Diving: 2 athletes
• Equestrian: 3 athletes
• Rowing: 10 athletes
• Rugby sevens: 2 athletes
• Sailing:  1 athlete
• Shooting: 1 athlete
• Skateboarding: 1 athlete
• Swimming: 16 athletes
• Tennis: 1 athlete

Olympic Medallists in 2 or more Games

• 4 Games – Lauren Jackson (Basketball – 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
• 3 Games – Jessica Fox (Canoeing – 2012, 2016, 2020), Eddie Ockendon (2008, 2012, 2020), Shane Rose (Equestrian – 2008, 2016, 2020)
• 2 Games – Emma McKeon (2016, 2020), Bronte Campbell (2016, 2020), Cameron McEvoy (2016, 2020), Kyle Chambers (2016, 2020), Melissa Diving (2008, 2020)

Indigenous athletes

• 2024 Paris : 11 athletes – Caleb Law (athletics), Patrick Mills & Alex Wilson  (basketball), Taliqua Clancy (beach volleyball), Marissa Williamson Pohlman & Callum Peters  (boxing),  Brooke Peris &  Mariah Williams (hockey),  Maurice Longbottom (rugby 7’s), Connor Nicholas (sailing) and Abbey Connor (swimming)
• Previous Olympics: 16 athletes in Tokyo, 9 in Rio, 8 in London. Full AOC list from 1964-2020

Comment: The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is investing resources in improving number of indigenous Olympians. Their battle maybe that indigenous athletes are scouted and attracted to professional sports such as AFL, AFLW, NRL,NRLW, cricket and netball. AOC plan to launch a $100m investment fund by the end of the year to raise money for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes.

Family Ties

Parents

Selected athletes with a parent as an Olympian:

• Swimmers – Ella Ramsay (father Heath -2000), Lani Pallister (mother Janelle Elford – 1988), Kai Taylor (mother Hayley Lewis – 1992, 1996, 2000), Emma McKeon (father Ron 1980, 1984)
• Athletics – Connor Murphy (father Andrew – 1996, 2000)
• Canoeing – Jackson Collins (father Dan 1992 to 2004), Jessica & Naomi Fox (father Richard for Great Britain 1992 & mother Myriam Jerusalmi for France – 1992, 1996)
• Hockey – Kaitlyn Knobbs (father Michael – 1984 & mother Lee Capes – 1988)
• Judo – Josh Katz (mother Kerrye (demo sport 1988)
• Shooting – Sergei Evglevski (mother Lalita Yauhleuskaya 1996 to 2016 )

Siblings

Siblings selected on team:

• Canoeing – Jessica & Naomi Fox , Jean & Pierre van der Westhuyzen
• Golf – Minjee & Min Woo Lee
• Water polo – Blake & Lachlan Edwards

Longevity of Olympic Athletes

This data can be looked at in terms of the number of athletes that may progress in eight years to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. Athletes in their debut and second Olympics may transition to 2032.

No of Olympics

Some 50% of athletes will make their debuts in Paris compared with 62% at Tokyo 2020 and 64% at Rio 2016 representing Australia for the first time.

• 5 Games – 6 athletes: Basketball (Patrick Mills, Joe Ingles & Lauren Jackson), Diving (Melissa Wu), Equestrian (Edwina Tops-Alexander), Hockey (Eddie Ockenden),
• 4 Games – 13 athletes: Athletics (Genevieve Gregson, Kathryn Mitchell), Basketball (Matthew Dellavedova), Cycling (Mathew Glaetzer, Rebecca Henderson, Lauren Reynolds), Diving (Annabelle Smith), Equestrian (Chris Burton & Shane Rose), Shooting (Dane Sampson), Swimming (Bronte Campbell & Cameron McEvoy)
• 3 Games – 61 athletes
• 2 Games – 148 athletes
• 1 Games – 231 athletes

Australian Institute of Sport

AIS scholarship programs ceased in 2013 but there still past scholarship holders still being selected. 2024 Games will most likely to end of AIS alumni representation. AIS alumni at the 2024:

• Beach volleyball – Taliqua Clancy (2008-13)
• Basketball – Lauren Jackson (1997-98), Joe Ingeles (2004-06), Patrick Mills (2005-07), Matthew Dellavedova (2007-2008), Cayla George (2007-08), Marianna Tolo (2006-07), Tess Madgen (2008-09), Rebecca Allen (2013)
• Diving – Melissa Wu (2006-08)
• Cycling – Simon Clarke (2005-2007), Michael Matthews (2009-11), Matthew Glaetzer (2010-13)
• Football – Claire Polkinghorne (2008-13), Katrina Gorry (2012-13)
• Hockey – Eddie Ockenden (2005-2013), Jacob Whetten (201-11, 13), Jeremy Hayward (2011-13), Brooke Peris (2011-13),  Aran Zalewski (2011), Tom Wickham (2011, 13), Jane Claxton (2013)
• Rowing – Spencer Turrin (2013)
• Rugby 7’s – Sharni Williams (20123)
• Water Polo – Zoe Arancini (2010-13), Keesja Gofers (2009-13)

International Multi-Sport Events

Commonwealth Games Alumni

• Previous Commonwealth Games alumni: 183 athletes
• Sport breakdown: Athletics – 47 athletes , Swimming – 31, Hockey – 27, Rugby 7’s – 17, Cycling – 16, Shooting – 8, Gymnastics – 6, Diving – 6, Table Tennis – 5, Boxing – 5, Triathlon – 4, Badminton – 3, Judo – 3, Beach volleyball – 2, Weightlifting – 2, Wrestling – 1

Comment: Commonwealth Games has provided athletes with experience in a major international multi-sport environment like Olympics – particularly in in terms of Olympic Village, ceremonies and intense media coverage.

Youth Olympics Alumni

Youth Olympics is a multi-sport events for athletes 15 to 18 years – smaller event and modified sports. Not held since 2018 but to be held in 2026.

• 2010: 7 out of 100 Australian athletes – Athletics (Brandon Starc, Michelle Jennecke), Canoeing (Jessica Fox), Hockey (Flynn Ogilvie, Jeremy Hayward), Rowing (Olympia Aldersey), Swimming (Emma McKeon), Wrestling (Jayden Lawrence)
• 2014: 4 out of 89 Australian athletes – Boxing (Caitlyn Parker), Hockey (Corey Weyer), Swimming (Kyle Chalmers, Brianna Throssell)
• 2018: 6 out of 88 Australian athletes – Archery (Laura Paeglis), Beach volleyball (Mark Nicolaidis), Hockey (Amy Lawton, Grace Young), Gymnastics (Lidilia Iakovleva), Swimming (Kaylee McKeown), Tennis (Rinky Hijikata)

Comment: Only a small percentage of athletes have transitioned to the Olympics. Three individual Olympic gold medallists from the Youth Olympics- Jess Fox, Kyle Chalmers and Kaylee McKeown.

Capital City v Region v Overseas

This data was determined where an athlete spent their high school years ie their location between 12 to 18 years – a formative development period in many athletes’ careers.

City v Regional

Athletes who grew up in a capital city or regional city/area (defined as outside capital city and includes Geelong, Wollongong, Newcastle, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast). Location determined by the city of their high school.

• Regional athletes: 119 (25.8%)
• Capital city athletes: 300 (65.2 %)
• Overseas / Unknown athletes: 41

Sports with high number of regional athletes:

• Hockey: 15 out of 32 (46.8%)
• Athletics: 22 out of 75 (29.3%)
• Football (Women): 8 out 18 (44.4%)
• Basketball: 9 out of 28 (32.1%)
• Swimming: 14 out 44 (25%)
• Rugby 7’s: 6 out of 24 25%)

Athletes with junior development overseas

Athletes who spent most of their teenage or junior years being coached overseas ie during high school years.

• Artistic Swimming – Raphaelle Gauthier (Canada)
• Badminton – Setyana Mapasa (Indonesia),
• Basketball – Samantha Whitcomb  (United States)
• Judo –  Katharina Haecker – (Germany)
• Table tennis – Min Jee  (Korea)
• Tennis   Daria Saville (Russia),  Alex de Minau (Spain), Alexei Popyrin (Spain)
• Water polo -, Danijela Jackovich – (United States) , Milo Maksimovic  (Serbia), Jacob Mercep (Croatia)
• Weightifting – Eileen Cikamatana (Fiji)
• Wrestling – Georgii Okorokov (Russia)

Athletes with US Scholarships

• Athletics: Izzi Batt-Doyle, Amy Cashin, Daniel Golubovic, Genieve Gregson, Linden Hall, Oliver Hoare, Jessica Hull, McKenzie Little, Camryn Newton-Smith, Stehanie Radcliffe, Lauren Ryan, Adam Spencer, Aleksandra Stoilova, Patrick Tiernan, Alanah Yukich
• Basketball: Matthew Dellavedova, Jodh Green, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Jack McVeigh, Patrick Mills, Duop Reath, Alana Smith, Krisy Wallace, Samantha Whitcomb, Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield,
• Diving: Jaxon Bowshire, Kurtis Matthews
• Golf: Adam Scott
• Rowing:  Angus Dawson, Fergus Hamilton, Joshua Hicks, Simon Keenan, Timothy Masters, James Robertson,
• Tennis: Rink Hijikata, John Peers, Ellen Perez
• Triathlon: Sophie Lin
• Water polo: Abby Andrews, Blake Edwards, Lachlan Edwards, ,Sienna Green, Bronte Halligan, John Hedges, Danijela Jachovich, Tilly Kearns, Luke Pavillard, Nick Porter

Sudanese Athletes

Sudanese born athletes who have migrated to Australia. Previously documented their influence on Australian sport.

• Four athletes are from Sudanese refugee families: Peter Bol, Joseph Deng & Yual Reath (athletics) and Duop Reath (basketball)

Comment:

• Data on regional v capital city athletes similar to 2016 team. Several of the major regional areas now have facilities and coaching equivalent to capital cities.
• United States college sport system is playing an important role in developing athletics, basketball and water polo athletes. The rise in Australian middle to long distance running and basketball can be attributed to many athletes competing in the NCAA system – greater competition than in Australia.
• Appears to be a decline in the number of overseas developed athletes migrating to Australia. There appeared to be an influx in the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Education

High School/ College (Years 7 to 12)

• Breakdown:
  • Private – 268 athletes (58.3%)
  • Government schools – 148 athletes (32.1 %)
  • Overseas schools– 22 athletes (4.8 %)
  • Homeschool – 1 athlete ; Unknown school -21 athletes`(4.8%)
• Specialist government sports schools:
  • NSW: 3 athletes – Westfield Sports High, Hunter Sports High, Narrabeen Sports High ; 2 – Illawarra Sports High ; 1 – Matraville Sports High ; Hills Sports High
  • VIC: 3 – Maribyrnong Sports Academy
  • QLD: 4 – Palm Beach Currumbin High
• Private schools: 6 athletes – St Peter’s Lutheran College (QLD) ; 4 – Caulfield Grammar (VIC), Melbourne Grammar, Newington College (NSW), St Joseph’s College (NSW) ; there were many private schools with three athletes selected.

Tertiary – University/ TAFE

Athletes that have completed or undertaking tertiary education. Since the birth of the modern Australian sport system since 1981, athletes have been encouraged and supported in tertiary education.

• 283 athletes with tertiary education (61.5 %)
• Australian universities: 229 students *
• Overseas universities: 52 with 50 located in the US *
• United States universities by sport: Athletics – 16 athletes ; Basketball – 13, Diving – 2, Golf – 1 , Rowing – 5, Tennis – 2, Triathlon- 1, Water polo – 10
• Leading Australian universities: 30 students – Griffith University ; 21 – University of Sydney ; 15 – Curtin University ; 14 – University of Melbourne  ; Deakin University ; University of Queensland ; 10 – Australian Catholic University ; 9 – Bond University, Queensland University of Technology University of Western Australia ; 8 – University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney,  Macquarie University ; 6 – University of Canberra, University of Western Australia ; 5 – Victoria University, RMIT, La Trobe University
• Sports and university students: Rowing 30 athletes (85.7% of all athletes) ; Water Polo – 22 (84.6%)  ; Diving 9 (81.8%) ; Athletics – 57 (76%) ; Hockey 23 (71.8%) ; Canoeing 10 (62.5%) ;  Swimming 27 (61.3 %) ; Sailing – 7 (58.3%) ; Football – 10 (61.1%) ; Basketball 17 (60.7%) ; Cycling 9 (40.9%) ; Rugby 7’s – (37.5) ; No tertiary students –  Skateboarding, Surfing, Weightlifting & Wrestling

(*) Several athletes have completed degrees at several universities in both Australia and the United States.

Comment:

• There is small increase in the percentage of tertiary and private school educated athletes from 2016 data.
• Athletes attending private schools have a greater chance of qualifying for the Olympics as during their development phase they have access to quality coaching, inter-school competitions and modern training facilities. Government sports schools appear to provide only a limited number of Olympic athletes.
• Sports where there is “limited” athlete income have the highest number of tertiary educated athletes – these athletes look beyond their sporting career and often have more flexible training and competition schedules.
• Fully professional sports – basketball, cycling, football and surfing lead to athletes becoming professional athletes in their late teens and foregoing tertiary education.
• Only three athletes had completed a trade – bricklaying, plumbing and cabinet making. The physical requirements of training and frequent competitions may make it difficult to undertake a trade.

Direct Athlete Support

• Australian Institute of Sport – dAIS Athlete Grant – $44 M in lead to 2024. Details of specific dAIS Athlete Grants.
• Local Sporting Champions – many Olympic athletes received grants in their youth from the Australian Sports Commission.
• Australian Olympic Committee / Commonwealth Games Australia support national sports organisations. Olympic medallists from have been given AOC incentives to remain in sport.
• State Institutes/Academies supported athletes: NSWIS – 82 scholarship athletes , QAS- 104, VIS – 81 , SASI – 36, WAIS – TBA, ACTAS – 10, TIS – 8. This data distribution most likely reflects a state population.
• Sport Australia Hall of Fame – 33 athletes from Scholarship & Mentoring Program have been selected.
• Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) – many Olympic athletes received funding through setting up ASF donation pages. Mostly by athletes that received limited financial support.
• Hancock Prospect – supported swimmers, rowers, artistic swimmers and volleyballers. It reported that it has spent $40 million in direct swimmer support by the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, since 2012.

Reflections

• Social class continues to be a dominant factor in Olympic selection – particularly in the development of athletes. Athletes from private schools due to coaching and training facilities are likely to have their athletic development enhanced. An interesting study for state institutes/academies to undertake would be the breakdown between private and government school athlete scholarships.
• Is the low number of indigenous athletes due to their likelihood of attending government opposed to private schools ? Private schools in Victoria have offered scholarships to indigenous Australian footballers and many of these athletes have been drafted into the AFL.
• Direct athlete support from government and private sector is resulting in many athletes extending their Olympic careers.
• There are the “the haves and the have-nots” in Olympic sports. This is reflected by the number of athletes from sports that are less financially supported using the Australian Sports Foundation’s platform for fundraising.
• Tertiary education continues to be an important characteristic of Olympic athletes. The cost of university education in Australia may lead to more athletes seeking out United States university scholarships.
• For many years, there has been the push for tertiary education but this has led to a decline in those undertaking a trade in Australia -a vital skill required in the Australian economy. Possibly more support could be provided for athletes interested in undertaking a trade – working with employers for flexible training.
• The improvement in expertise and training facilities in major regional cities is assisting some athletes in remaining in their local community. This means they become a day-to-day role model in their community.

Methodology of Research

A Microsoft Access database was created to manage publicly available data on each selected Australian Olympian.

Data collected:

• Athlete name, gender, sport, birthplace, secondary school, university, previous Olympics, parents.
• Birthplace was followed by further research to determine whether an athlete who were developed overseas.
• Secondary school location assisted in determining capital city v regional athletes. Athlete was determined as regional where the secondary school was located outside capital city.

Data sources referenced:

• Australian Olympic Committee team member profiles – age, high school, university, number of Games. The data on each athlete was sometimes incomplete.
• LinkedIn used to check team members education.
• Team member profiles through Commonwealth Games Australia, national sports organisations and Wikipedia.

Data constraints:

• Team members where secondary school was not determined – 21 athletes.
• Tertiary education ie university listing may have some flaws due to athletes transferring universities during sporting career.

There may be minor inaccuracies in the data presented. Every effort was made to locate publicly available athlete information. Despite possible errors, this research should provide insights into the 2024 Australian Olympic Team.

Reference:

1. Pavia, G. An Analysis of the Social Class of the 1972 Australian Olympic Team, Australian Journal of Physical Education, Sept. 1973, 14-17.