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Rio Olympics 2016: Rider returns after 28-year break, debutants rule and sailors on fire

THERE are debutants galore in the Australian team — along with an old face returning after 28 years. The latest Olympic and Paralympic news in RACING TO RIO.

Kayaker Jo Brigden-Jones takes on an Australian rowing 8 crew

WITH the 100 days to go mark now passed we take a look at how the Australian team is looking ahead to Rio and an athlete who is returning after a very long break.

While there are hundreds of athletes still to be named, there are already plenty of debutants heading to the Olympics — along with an old face making history.

We meet our first athletes selected for the Paralympics.

Edwina Tops Alexander on Lintea Tequila at an event at Miami recently.
Edwina Tops Alexander on Lintea Tequila at an event at Miami recently.

Our sailors are racing in nasty conditions in Europe but it was sunshine and success for some beach volleyballers.

And we have shooters and archers right on target for success.

All this and more in this week’s RACING TO RIO.

OLD FACE RETURNS

Talk about a long time between drinks.

Equestrian Scott Keach has set a new sporting mark even before stepping foot in Rio.

Show jumpers Keach and Edwina Tops-Alexander, along with their respective horses Caretina De Joter and Fedor, were confirmed Wednesday on the team heading to Rio.

It is the second time Keach, 51, has made the team but his first Games were actually 28 years ago in Seoul back in 1988.

This gap surpasses the Australian record for the longest time between competing at the Games which was previously held by sailors Karyn Davis-Gojnich and Nicky Bethwaite. who competed in 1988 and 2004.

Equestrian Scott Keach riding in 1988.
Equestrian Scott Keach riding in 1988.

Keach made his debut in the 1988 Eventing Team alongside Andrew Hoy, Barry Roycroft and David Green, finishing fifth in the Team and 23rd in Individual. But he decided to take a break from the sport in the 90s before returning again to qualify for Rio.

This time round he and Tops-Alexander are attempting to become Australia’s first show jumping medallists.

Scott Keach after winning the FEI Ocala grand prix.
Scott Keach after winning the FEI Ocala grand prix.

“Looking back it would have been ideal to have another two years of competition under my belt,’’ he said. “I was young and inexperienced for international competition. The end result was disappointing.”

Rio will be the third Olympics for Tops-Alexander who trains in The Netherlands with husband Jan Tops.

World champion show jumper and Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander.
World champion show jumper and Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander.

100 DAYS TO GO

Shiny and new. That’s the look of the 2016 Olympic team with 80 of the 126 athletes so far selected to make their debuts in Rio.

And while the team’s oldest member is Warren Potent at 54, it is relatively young with the average age under 25.

Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse are Olympic rookies chasing sailing success.
Lisa Darmanin and Jason Waterhouse are Olympic rookies chasing sailing success.

This could all chance though, with more than athletes still to be named for Rio

In London, Australia had 227 debutants in its team of 410 — 55 per cent of the team

And in two firsts for the team, Kitty Chiller will be the first Australian female Chef and women’s rugby players will be part of the team for the first time.

PUSH FOR OLYMPICS

Playing in their first event together, former indoor players Becchara Palmer and Phoebe Bell have won the Palembang Open beach volleyball event in Indonesia.

During the event the pair, making a late charge for Rio, beat fellow Australians, Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Nikki Laird.

“We’re pretty chuffed,” Palmer said.

Becchara Palmer (right, jumping) playing with Sarah Battaglene at Manly Beach recently.
Becchara Palmer (right, jumping) playing with Sarah Battaglene at Manly Beach recently.

“Our tournament was run game-by-game. We knew what we wanted to create, and it only took us a few games to start seeing it

“But once it clicked, it clicked.”

Australia is hoping to qualify a men’s and women’s team for Rio at June’s Asian Olympic beach qualifiers.

SAILORS PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

It’s been wet and wild in France but Australian sailors are handling awful conditions with aplomb.

On fact after the first day of racing at the fame Heyeres regatta in France four crew are in medal positions.

The famous Mistral wins whipped up 28 knots to make it one of the windiest starts to a regatta this year.

Australian Laser sailor Tim Burton in action.
Australian Laser sailor Tim Burton in action.

“Growing up in Australia we’re used to a little bit more breeze,” said Will Ryan, who with skipper Mat Belcher leads the 470 class.

“We’re happy with how we are sailing and that is the main thing.’’

Matt Wearne is second in the laser class in which Tim Burton lies fifth, Will and Sam Phillips are second in the 49er skiffs, Oliver Tweedel is third and Jake Lilley fifth in the Finn, Carrie Smith and Jamie Ryan are seventh 7th

PARALYMPIANS NAMED

While the Olympic team is taking shape, our first Paralympians have been confirmed for Rio.

A team of five table tennis players have been named and there are some very familiar faces in it.

Five-time Paralympic wheelchair tennis ace Daniela Di Toro will make her debut in table tennis in Rio.

“I never thought I’d make six Games in a row in two different sports, and this one as a genuine rookie but also as captain is special,” Di Toro said.

Joining her on the team is Melissa Tapper, who is also competing at the Olympics.

The pair will play alongside a trio of debutants in Samuel von Einem, Barak Mizrachi and Andrea McDonnell.

Australia has won seven medals at previous Paralympic Games — two gold, two silver and three bronze with our last medal in 1984.

Daniela di Toro has changed sports for this year’s Paralympics.
Daniela di Toro has changed sports for this year’s Paralympics.

SILVER FOR OUR OLDEST ATHLETE

He will be out oldest athlete in Rio but age isn’t proving a barrier for success for Warren Potent.

The shooter has claimed silver at the 2016 ISSF World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

It was the second podium finish in less than two months for the 54-year old from Sydney.

Warren Potent showing fine form ahead of Rio.
Warren Potent showing fine form ahead of Rio.

POSTS EQUALS RECORD

Archer Alec Potts has equalled the Australian recurve record on the opening day of the Shanghai World Cup in China.

The 20-year-old finished on 685 points to match the Australian record held by Shanghai teammate and former World indoor champion, Ryan Track and finish the Shanghai qualifying round in third place overall.

Potts is bidding to be one of three archers shooting in Rio.

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

THE Jillaroos have received top billing alongside the Kangaroos and Kiwis for the one-off Test this May. READ MORE

KATE Doughty is living proof dreams do come true. They just might take a while. READ MORE

SHE’LL need to beat eight women in one race to get to Rio Olympics so in preparation kayaker Jo Brigden-Jones took on eight fellow Australian athletes yesterday — all in the one boat. READ MORE

IT is only fitting that during a time when the Matildas are in top form, Football Federation Australia decided to combine and rename their annual awards to the Dolan Warren Awards and give the women’s game the same level of recognition as the men’s. READ MORE

SHE doubted she could do it but Rebecca Creedy proved the strongest on the day with her sensational victory in the blue riband ironwoman race at the Australian surf lifesaving championships. READ MORE

WITH a new starting stance modelled on sprint queens Flo-Jo and Gail Devers, Australian champion Sally Pearson will run her first full hurdles race next month against kids and at least one man. READ MORE

When I look back at 2016 I want to it remember it as the year women in sport were heard.

When they were recognised, accepted, acknowledged and celebrated. JESSICA FOX column. READ MORE

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/swoop/rio-olympics-2016-rider-returns-after-28year-break-debutants-rule-and-sailors-on-fire/news-story/f3be3ea545da2b1ccb852ce2f58e8b3d