A team of 45 Griffith students, alumni, and team members is on its way to Paris for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
'Team Griffith' will include 15 Olympic and Paralympic Games debutants and is aiming to eclipse its best-ever medal haul of 29 (19 Oly & 10 Para) achieved at the last Games in Tokyo.
Among the athletes competing at their first Olympics is Australia's fastest ever woman Torrie Lewis who ran an Australian record of 11.10 for the 100 metres earlier this year.
19-year-old Torrie, who is studying a Bachelor of Cyber Security, will compete in the 200m and 4 by 100metre relay and is joined in Paris by another debutant in fellow track sprinter Ella Connolly who is undertaking a Bachelor of Education.
Once again, Team Griffith will make a big splash in the aquatic disciplines with 20 athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic swimming, artistic swimming, water polo and diving teams. Griffith Swim Squad member Kaylee McKeown is tipped to be one of the stars in Paris and is favourite to win medals in the backstroke and relays.
Remarkably, Bachelor of Science (Honours) graduate Cameron McEvoy will be representing his country at his fourth Olympics having competed in London (2012), Rio (2016), and Tokyo (2020) as will Tokyo Canoe-Slalom Olympic champion Jessica Fox who is currently studying a Master of Business Administration.
Even more impressive is the staying power of Wheelchair athlete Madison de Rozario OAM who will be competing at her fifth Paralympics after debuting as a teenager in Beijing in 2008.
Director of Sports Engagement at Griffith, Duncan Free OAM, himself a four-time Olympian who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, is extremely proud of the student athletes and alumni who have reached the pinnacle of their chosen pursuit.
"Griffith University has always taken immense pride in our student-athlete cohort. Seeing 45 of our own head to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a testament to the dedication and talent of these remarkable individuals."
Griffith University Sports College has a long-standing tradition of producing and nurturing champions. In its short history it has produced 92 Olympians and 18 Paralympians as well as many other national representatives in all forms of sport.
"Our holistic approach to athlete support, from academic flexibility to top-notch training facilities, ensures that our athletes are well-prepared to excel both in their sports and their studies."
"Watching these athletes represent Australia on the world stage is a source of great pride for the entire Griffith community. We know they will not only compete with excellence but also inspire future generations of student-athletes, Duncan Free OAM said.
"We aim to surpass our best-ever medal haul from Tokyo, and with the incredible talent and determination of Team Griffith, we believe we can achieve this goal. Our athletes are ready to give their all and make their mark in Paris."
The Full Team:
Australian Olympic Team
Molly Goodman – Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice – Rowing
Jess Fox OAM – Master of Business Administration – Canoe – Slalom
Yale Steinepreis – Canoe – Sprint – Juris Doctor (Law)
Jackson Collins – Canoe Sprint – Bachelor of Business
Alyce Wood – Canoe – Sprint – Bachelor of Communication & MBA Alumnus
Charlize Andrews – Water Polo – Bachelor of Nursing
Rayna Buckle – Artistic Swimming – Bachelor of Dental Health Science
Georgia Courage-Gardiner – Artistic Swimming – Bachelor of Education
Milena Waldman – Artistic Swimming – Bachelor of Paramedicine
Clare Wheeler – Football – Master of Environment
Clare Polkinghorne – Football – Bachelor of Exercise Science (Alumnus)
Tameka Yallop – Football – Bachelor of Business/Master of Business (Alumnus)
Hayley Raso – Football – Bachelor of Paramedicine (Alumnus)
Moesha Johnson – Marathon Swimming & Swimming – Griffith Swim Squad
Kaylee McKeown OAM – Swimming – Griffith Swim Squad
Brendon Smith – Swimming – Griffith Swim Squad
Jack Cartwright – Swimming – Bachelor of Science
Jenna Forrester – Swimming – Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Business
Shayna Jack – Swimming – Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Lani Pallister – Swimming – Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Zac Stubblety-Cook OAM – Swimming – Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Business
Kai Taylor – Swimming – Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Business
Cameron McEvoy – Swimming – Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Alumnus)
Emma McKeon AM – Swimming – Bachelor of Public Health (Alumnus)
Lidiia Lakovleva – Rhythmid Gymnastics – Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Cassiel Rousseau – Diving – Bachelor of Psychological Science
Domonic Bedggood – Diving – Bachelor of Commerce (Alumnus)
Matt Denny – Track and Field – Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Matthew Hauser – Triathlon – Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Grace Brown – Cycling – Road – Master of Marketing (Alumnus)
Kristina Clonan – Cycling – Track – Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Tia Hinds – Rugby 7s – Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Ella Connolly – Track and Field – Bachelor of Education (Alumnus)
Torrie Lewis – Track and Field – Bachelor of Cyber Security
Ellie Beer – Track and Field – Bachelor of Sport Development
Liz Clay – Track and Field – Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Michael Bohl OAM – Swimming – Griffith Swim Squad Coach
Australian Paralympic Team
Curtis McGrath OAM (Team Captain) – Kayak – Bachelor of Aviation Management
Susan Seipel – Kayak – bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Madison de Rozario OAM – Track and Field – Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Tom Gallagher – Swimming – Bachelor of Architectural Design
Katja Dedekind – Swimming – Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Rowan Crothers OAM – Swimming – Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Ella Sabljak – Wheelchair Rugby – Bachelor of Primary Education (Alumnus)
Tom O'Neill-Thorne – Wheelchair Basketball – Bachelor of International Business/Bachelor of Government and International Relations (Alumnus)
