Let the Rio Games begin

The Hills will be well represented at the 2016 Olympic Games, with 10 local Olympians making the national team.

Michelle Jenneke at the Olympic Park Athletics Arena ahead of the Rio Games. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Hills will be well represented at the 2016 Olympic Games, with many locals making their debut in Rio in fields ranging from athletics, rowing, martial arts, swimming, and sailing.

Nathan (blue) and Josh train in Castle Hill. Picture: Peter Kelly

• Josh Katz

Josh Katz, of Northmead, will make history when he joins sibling Nathan as the first brothers to represent Australia in judo.

At 18, Josh will also be the youngest Australian judoka on the team. Josh won gold at both the 2015 and 2016 Oceania Championships, and also won gold at the 2015 Australian Championships.

The Katz brothers have Olympics in their blood – their mother, Kerrye, was in the 1988 Olympic Games when judo was a demonstration sport, and their father Rob was one of her coaches.

• Nathan Katz

Nathan, 21, will join his brother Josh at Rio.

The former Northmead Primary School and William Clarke College student trains with his brother at Budokan Judo Club in Castle Hill.

He won back-to-back gold medeals at the Oceania Championships in 2015 and 2016, securing his qualification for Rio.

Nathan and Josh Katz with their tickets to Rio. Picture: Peter Kelly

• Brandon Starc

Brandon Starc, of Baulkham Hills, will compete in the men’s high jump.

The 2010 Youth Olympic silver medallist and 2015 Australian Championships gold medallist has had a good year, with golds at both the 2016 Perth Track Classic and the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Japan.

The 22-year-old is the younger brother of Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc.

• Jordan Thompson

Jordan Thompson, who grew up in Cherrybrook, will compete in the men’s singles tennis.

His selection to Rio follows an impressive year on the court including playing at this year’s Wimbledon and the French Open.

In January, he took on world No. 17 Bernard Tomic at the Sydney International.

The 22-year-old former Oakhill College student is currently ranked 90 in the world.

Jordan Thompson during the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris in May. Picture: AFP/Miguel Medina

• Jenny Blundell

Castle Hill athlete Jenny Blundell, 22, will run the women’s 1500m in Rio.

The Cherrybrook Technology High School alumni secured her selection with two qualifying performances and two first places at the Flanders Cup Meet in Belgium and the IAAF World Challenge Meet in Beijing.

Blundell also came first in the 1500m at the 2016 IAAF World Challenge in Melbourne.

• Michelle Jenneke

Rounding out the Hills contingent of track and field Olympians will be Dural’s Michelle Jenneke, who qualified for the 100m women’s hurdles.

The 22-year-old former Hills Grammar School student won silver at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and set a personal best of 12.82 seconds, becoming the second fastest Australian of all time, at the 2015 National Championships.

Last year, she won bronze at the World University Games.

• Cameron Girdlestone

Cameron Girdlestone, of Glenhaven, will join the men’s quadruple scull.

The 28-year-old teacher picked up rowing in 2003 and was competing in the Junior World Championships just two years later.

He won a silver in the 2015 World Rowing Championships and gold at the 2016 Australian Rowing Championships as well as at this year’s World Rowing Cup II.

Cameron Girdlestone (second from front). Picture: Supplied

• Jacob Hansford

Jacob Hansford, who was born in Baulkham Hills, will compete in the 4 x 200m Freestyle Men’s Relay.

Now living in Blacktown, the 20-year-old won a bronze medal in the 200m free at the 2015 World University Games and a silver medal in the 4 x 200m free.

Rio swimmer Jacob Hansford at his family home.

• Mitch Emery

Mitch Emery, who was also born in Baulkham Hills, will make his Olympics debut with the national water polo team, the Australian Sharks.

The 25-year-old was named in the National Water Polo League All-Stars team in 2015 and competed in the 2015 FINA World Championships in Russia.

Tom Burton during the ISAF Sailing World Cup. Picture: Beau Outteridge

• Tom Burton

Tom Burton, of Baulkham Hills, will be one of six on the Australian Olympics sailing team after beating world number two Matt Wearn for the country’s single laser spot.

The Muirfield High School alumni began sailing competitively at 14 and took out second place at the World Championships in 2014 along with two World Cup victories in 2015.

• Rachel Neylan

Cyclist Rachel Neylan, who lived in Baulkham Hills, will make her Olympics debut in the road category.

The 34-year-old won the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race last year and came second this year.

Before she became a professional cyclist, she was a phyisotherapist for the Australian rowing team.