Category: Athletes
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Notable Australian Sporting Deaths in 2024
By Greg Blood List of notable Australian sportspeople that died in 2024. These people have contributed significantly to their sport and Australian sport in playing, coaching, administration or media roles. Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) lost four members – Kevan Gosper, Neale Fraser, Andrew Plympton and Sir Donald Trescowthick Administration Athletics Australian Football Boxing…
australiansportreflections
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Australian Sports Books & Films 2024
By Greg Blood List of books and films covering Australian sport in 2024 that tell the story of specific sports, athletes, teams, events and issues. This year’s list also includes films that are primarily documentaries. It includes links to the publisher and description of the book. There is an increasing number of children’s books written…
australiansportreflections
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Movement of Australian Olympic and Paralympic Athletes Between Nations : Historical Insights
By Greg Blood The movement of 2024 triple Olympic medallist Matthew Richardson to Great Britain has been scrutinised in the media and social media. Richardson’s move is relatively rare for an Australian high performing Olympic and Paralympic athlete. It is important to recognise Australian sport has greatly benefited from athletes from competitor nations transferring to…
australiansportreflections
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Coaches of Australian 2024 Summer Olympic Medallists
By Greg Blood Previously coaches of Australian medallists at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was published. This list recognises Australian coaching success at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Deservedly athletes receive great recognition and adultation but it is important to recognise coaches who play an important role in athlete success and assist in moving their sport forward.…
australiansportreflections
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Characteristics of the 2024 Australian Olympic Team: age, gender, experience, longevity, location, education, indigenous, family and direct athlete support
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…
australiansportreflections
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Albanese Government Endorses the Independent Review into the Australian Institute of Sport.
By Greg Blood The Independent Review Report highlights the reasons for the 249.7 million investment into the “spine of Australian sport – the AIS in Canberra. The last major investment into AIS facilities in Canberra was in the 2002 Howard Government budget where $65 million was allocated over six years for the development of –…
australiansportreflections
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Notable Australian Sporting Deaths in 2023
By Greg Blood List of notable Australian sports people that died in 2023. These people contributed significantly to their sport and Australian sport in playing, coaching, administration or media roles. Sport Australia Hall of Fame five members – Ron Barassi, Phil Coles, Rale Rasic, John Devitt and Ken Warby. Significant Coaches – Ron Barassi (Australian…
australiansportreflections
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Australian Sports Books 2023
By Greg Blood Books published in 2023 that provide historical, biographical and policy insights into Australian sport. ASSH Australian Football Australian Sport Policy Boxing Cricket Endurance Sport Football Horse Racing Journalism Motor Sport Rugby League Rugby Union Sport Book Reviews Sport Photography Social Issues Surf Life Saving Surfing Women Additions to this list can be…
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Australian First Female Paralympic Marathon Gold Medallist: Jan Randles Journey
By Jan Randles I was born on the 23rd of August 1945 in Melbourne, Australia. In 1974, while enjoying a very successful career as an Advertising Art Director both in Melbourne and overseas, I went to Bali on a holiday, where I fell off a motor bike down a cliff and broke my back. Looking…
australiansportreflections
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Importance of the Paralympic Games: Highlighting the Journeys of Athletes with a Disability
By Greg Blood During the next two weeks we will hear or read about the journeys of many Paralympic athletes. These journeys about striving for excellence in their sport and overcoming challenges along the way. I worked at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for nearly thirty years and during this period, I realised that…
australiansportreflections