Queensland Girls’ Secondary Schools Sports Association’s (QGSSSA) greatest top 40
In the lead-up to the resumption of Queensland Girls’ Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA) sport this Saturday, we celebrate the association by naming its greatest top 40 sportswomen. First up, numbers 40-26.
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In the lead-up to the resumption of Queensland Girls’ Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA) sport this Saturday, we celebrate the association by naming its greatest top 40 sportswomen.
The list is so imposing that Olympians like Deanna Lockett (speed skater), Rina Hill, Sue Lewis, Gemma Rooney, Emma Jackson and Maxine Seear narrowly miss the list.
And three prodigious QGSSSA modern day talents and future Olympians, Abby Andrews (Brisbane Girls Grammar School, water polo), swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan (St Peters Lutheran College) and Lidiia Iakovleva (Moreton Bay College), who at 16 was the baby Rhythmic Gymnastics 2019 World Championships team, also missed.
Andrew Dawson will report on QGSSSA each Saturday online for The Courier-Mail and Quest Newspapers.
No. 26
JACINTA EDMUNDS
The COVID-19 crisis robbed the St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School past student of an almost certain Olympic berth in Tokyo. Edmunds in the rowing eight for 2018 World Rowing Championships where the Australians placed third in the final. In 2019 Edmunds was again picked in Australian women’s sweep squad for the international season, including a gold medal winning effort in Rowing World Cup II and a silver medal in World Cup No. 3. Then, at the world championships, she helped Australia to second place in a Games qualifying performance.
No. 27
NAAZMI JOHNSON
The Moreton Bay College old girl was a prolific medal winner at Commonwealth Games. A gymnast, she won three gold medals and two silver medals at the Delhi Games in 2010, and then a bronze medal at the 2014 Games. She is one of Australia’s most decorated Rhythmic gymnasts.
No. 28
GEORGIA BOHL
A St Peters Lutheran College alumni and past student of Wilston State School, Bohl broke into the Australian Olympic team for the Rio Games in 2016. A breaststroke exponent, Bohl then had the thrill of winning her first every senior international medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, bronze in the 100m breaststroke. The daughter of national swim coach and ex-Commonwealth Games swimmer Michael, Georgia also was a member of the Games gold medal winning 4x100m medley relay side.
No. 29
LISA MACKIE
A Brisbane State High School alumni, Mackie is a two-time Olympian who made her debut at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. She went on to win a bronze medal in the 4×200m freestyle relay at the 1996 Olympics.
No. 30
LARISSA MILLER
The Moreton Bay College old girl is a two-time silver medal winner from the Commonwealth Games. She placed second in 2014 at Glasgow and was again second in the uneven bars. The artistic gymnast also represented Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics and competed at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
No. 31
GEORGIA GODWIN
Yet another gymnast from Moreton Bay College, Godwin was one of the first Australian athletes from any sport to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games which would have been her first. Godwin had the thrill of winning three Commonwealth Games medals at the Queensland-based event in 2018, claiming silver in the all-round and two bronze. She is a world-class athlete who, at the 2017 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, finished 13th.
No. 32
GAYLE MAYES
The St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School alumni (1973) achieved the rare feat of being an Olympic finalist as a member of the Australian canoeing team that competed at the 1992 Games in Barcelona. She finished eighth in the K-4 500m event.
NO. 33
RENEE TAYLOR
The Clayfield College old girl was bound for the Tokyo Olympic Games until the COVID-19 crisis took hold. Taylor, a hockeyroo, made her senior international debut in a Test series against China in April 2015 and, having working her way through the ranks, she has now established herself in Australia’s top team. On the way through Taylor was part of the Australian women’s junior national team that won bronze at the 2016 Hockey Junior World Cup.
No. 34
CHLOE SIMS
Yet another elite gymnast from the Moreton Bay College, Sims has twice won Commonwealth Games gold medals. In 2006 she helped Australia to gold in the team event, and then placed first in the all-round competition.
No. 35
JULIA PRICE
A Somerville House past student, Price was the outstanding Australian women’s cricketer
of her era who played in one-day internationals and 10 Tests.
No. 36
GABRIELLA PALM
From Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School, Palm is an Olympian in waiting. Like Renae Taylor and Georgia Godwin (mentioned above) Palm was bound for her first Olympics in Tokyo. A goalkeeper in the elite Australia women’s water polo team, Palm helped Australia to a bronze medal at last year’s FINA World Championships. She was also in the side which took a Test match off the world champion USA in January.
No. 37
LAURA TAYLOR
A St Hilda’s old girl, Taylor was a member of the Commonwealth Games
Gold Coast team in 2018, winning a silver medal in the 200m butterfly. She was also an outstanding performer at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships, placing fifth in butterfly.
No. 38
JUDITH HUDSON
A Somerville House alumni, the outstanding swimmer competed at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.
No. 39
WENDY CHEN
Wendy Chen, from the Brisbane State High School class of 2010, is a 2016 Olympian. A badminton player, Chen made history by winning six Oceania Championships.
No.40
SUSIE BAUMER
A Brisbane State High School old girl, the swimming Susie Baumer was an Olympian in 1984 and 1988.