Natalie Van Coevorden one of three first-time Olympians in Australian triathlon team for Paris

The Australian team for the Paris Olympics has swelled beyond 200 with the inclusion of some emotional first-timers.

Natalie Van Coevorden says she “burst into tears” when she got the call confirming she would be making her Olympic debut in Paris as one of three first-timers among the four triathletes picked to represent Australia.

At 31, Van Coevorden is the most experienced of the quartet, joining Luke Willian and Sophie Linn as Olympic debutants, while 26-year-old Matthew Hauser becomes the fifth Australian man to contest the triathlon at two Olympics.

Their additions to the Australian Olympic team takes the confirmed number of Australian athletes headed to Paris to 203. The team is expected to have 460 members.

Tokyo 2020 Olympian Matt Hauser returns for #Paris2024 alongside three Olympic debutants in Luke Willian, Natalie van Coevorden and Sophie Linn! 🏊🚲🏃#AllezAUS | @AusTriathlonpic.twitter.com/Vz8EtreUgm

— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) June 20, 2024

Currently in Spain preparing for the Games, along with Hauser and Willian, Van Coevorden,

from Campbelltown in NSW, said she rang her parents straight after finding out to thank them for helping make her the “best athlete” she could be.

“When I got the good news I just burst into tears,” she said.

“I said ‘Thank you so much, I’m really grateful for this opportunity and I’m going to grasp it with everything I’ve got for myself and the other three people on this team’.

“I was just so excited and grateful to have my partner and one of my best friends there to share that moment. All of us were in tears to be honest.

“Shortly after I called my parents. They’ve been part of the journey since I was a young kid. They took me to swimming when I was young at five o’clock in the morning.

“They gave me everything when I was young to be the best athlete I could. It’s great to share this moment with so many people in my life.”

Natalie Van Coevorden is off to her first Olympics.

The Aussies will each contest the individual event and combine for the mixed team relay.

Hauser sits fourth and Willian 13th in world rankings, finishing second and third respectively at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Yokohama last month.

The four athletes have already tasted international success as a team, combining to win mixed relay silver at the World Triathlon Championship Series Hamburg in 2022.

Queenslander Willian, who missed selection for the Tokyo Games, said he was “absolutely stoked” to get his chance this time.

“After missing out in 2021, this has been the goal for the past three years – to qualify for Paris. To be able to do that and to officially be selected just feels amazing,” he said.

“There are only around 460 Australians selected for these Olympics, and I believe it’s about the same every year, so I’m in very special company. To have my name among some of the greats is pretty special.”

Australia has a strong history in the women’s triathlon at the Olympics, having won five medals, including Emma Snowsill’s gold in Beijing in 2008.

Originally published as Natalie Van Coevorden one of three first-time Olympians in Australian triathlon team for Paris