Tokyo Olympics 2021: Full Australian athletics squad named

He qualified for three events and seriously considered two, but Aussie middle distance star Stewart McSweyn will concentrate on just one in Tokyo. It’s a decision that could yield golden results.

Sinead Diver is competing in the marathon at the Olympics. Sinead with her children Eddie, 11, and Dara, 7. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Emerging star Stewart McSweyn will lead the medal chances for Australia’s biggest athletics team to compete at an overseas Olympic Games.

McSweyn was named in the 63-member team for Tokyo, just 36 hours after he’d stamped his credentials after producing the fastest mile in the world since 2014.

The King Island runner dominated at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo, leaving a number of his Tokyo rivals in his wake to clock a new Australian record of 3min48.37sec, shaving half a second off Craig Mottram’s record set in 2005.

McSweyn, 26, had qualified for three events but has elected to focus on the 1500m rather than the 5000m. He could have also potentially competed in the 10,000m.

Stewart McSweyn is creating a big impression ahead of Tokyo.

“The 1500 is going to be a really tight competition, but I am confident going into it,” he said. “I did consider doubling up with the 5000, but the heats are all too close together and I don’t feel strong enough yet for that.

“My season is certainly going in the right direction going into the Olympics.”

Fellow Australian Jye Edwards finished third in the Oslo race and he is one of 36 Olympic debutants which includes US-based Jessica Hull who has withdrawn from the 5000m to also focus on the 1500m.

Only Sydney 2000 (87) and Melbourne 1956 (75) have had larger Australian track and field teams.

Jeff Riseley has been named for his fourth Olympics while javelin thrower Kathryn Mitchell, distance runner Dave McNeill and long-jumper Henry Frayne are returning to their third Games.

Marathoner Sinead Diver (44) becomes the oldest ever Australian Olympian in athletics while fellow marathoner Lisa Weightman is the third oldest at 42.

Sinead Diver is competing in the marathon at the Olympics. Picture: Alex Coppel

Queensland’s Ellie Beer is the youngest with the 18-year-old selected in the 4x400m relay but they may change with Athletics Australia hopeful of adding a 4x100m women’s relay team - pending world rankings - before the final deadline.

Discus thrower Matt Denny returns for his second Olympics after securing his selection with a career best throw last month.

“I was so happy to throw a PB so close to Tokyo especially considering we have a lot of freshening up to do to get into peak form, so I’m very excited about the form I potentially could get into,” Denny said.

“I’m really just looking forward to finally competing again. It’s been a long time between drinks when it comes to competing internationally, so I’m hanging out to get back in the ring.

“The past few years have had a lot of learning curves, but it’s nice to have learnt them ahead of Tokyo.”

The team’s pre-Olympic training camp begins in Cairns next Saturday.