Short and Sweet: Rio Olympic team swells, ironwoman stars, Wallaroos named, NSW Swifts big game
THE Australian Olympic team has swelled to 300 plus, it’s D-Day for the Swifts, and ironwoman stars and Wallaroos are named. SHORT AND SWEET women’s sport wrap.
Women's sport
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- Matildas have no fear of Rio rivals
- ANZ netball: Who's in, who's out
- Aussie stars in ironman triathlon
- Teen living the Olympic dream
THE Australian team has swelled to 300 plus with BMX riders Caroline Buchanan and Lauren Reynolds claiming a little slice of history and Anna Meares named as our flagbearer.
A rider who competed at the last Paralympics will race alongside Meares with tennis also revealing their players for the Games.
The Wallaroos, Matildas and Hockeyroos were all unveiled while the Australian teams in the final series of the ANZ netball championships came to light.
All this and more in our SHORT AND SWEET wrap of women’s sport.
RACING TO HISTORY
Caroline Buchanan and Lauren Reynolds, along with teammate Sam Willoughby are Australia’s first dual BMX Olympians.
World silver medallist Buchanan and London Olympic silver medallist Willoughby leads the charge in Rio as our best chances for medal glory.
Buchanan was favoured for a medal in Rio but crashed out.
“The goal is for Rio redemption — to win gold,” Buchanan said.
“The toughest competitor is always yourself. I battled my own mindset and nerves got the better of me in London.
“Four years on with three more world titles and five more World Cup wins I am a different athlete coming into Rio.”
BMX Riders: Caroline Buchanan — 2nd Games, Anthony Dean — 1st Games, Lauren Reynolds — 2nd Games, Bodi Turner — 1st Games, Sam Willoughby — 2nd Games.
WALLAROOS NAMED
A total of 14 players from the 2014 rugby World Cup campaign have been named in the new Wallaroos squad.
The outfit is preparing for a series of games across the Tasman culminating in matches against New Zealand.
The Wallaroos extended squad will attend a camp on the Gold Coast in August ahead of their three match tour to New Zealand in October which includes a fixture at Auckland’s Eden Park against the Black Ferns.
GAME ON NETBALL FANS
Just three Australian teams remain in the running for the ANZ Championship netball crown this year with the Queensland Firebirds earning a spot directly in the Australian conference final after they finished as top Aussie team at the conclusion of the preliminary season.
On Sunday the Swifts host the Vixens to determine the team to meet the Firebirds in the Australian conference final.
OLD AND NEW FACES IN CYCLING TEAM
London gold medallist Anna Meares has been named for her fourth Olympics while team sprint buddy Steph Morton is heading to her first.
Morton competed in London but at the Paralympics where she was a pilot.
Australia’s five-member women’s endurance cycling team boasts 2012 omnium bronze medallist Annette Edmondson (SA), while Melissa Hoskins (WA) and Amy Cure (TAS) return for their second Games. Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW) and Georgia Baker (TAS) will make their Olympic debuts.
STEEPLECHASER TURNED IRONWOMAN STARS
An athlete who gave up steeplechasing because of her injuries is now dominating one of the toughest sports in he world.
Aussie Mel Hauschildt has won the European ironman triathlon in Frankfurt.
Hauschildt made up an enormous eight minute deficit after the swim to win the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run race.
FINGERS CROSSED FOR RIO
Unlike the golfers, tennis players seem happy to compete into.
Sam Stosur and Daria Gavrilova have been named for the singles and women’s doubles.
Other team members are Thanasi Kokkinakis men’s singles, John Millman men’s singles, John Peers men’s doubles, Chris Guccione men’s doubles.
The mixed doubles combination will be chosen from athletes already selected at the Games.
MATILDAS CHASING HISTORY
They are a team who could well win a medal in Rio and if they do one of their players is sure to become an instant hit.
The Matildas this week named the youngest member of the Australian team in 16-year-old Ellie Carpenter for the games.
The Matildas are making their first appearance at the Olympics since 2004 with co-captain Lisa de Vanna the only member of the current team who was there.
“We want to win a medal,” De Vanna said before jetting out to Brazil to prepare for their first game two days before the opening ceremony.
NEW-LOOK HOCKEYROOS
An extraordinary 12 players will make their debut in Rio with the Hockeyroos.
Only four members of he team have previous experience in the Game arena.
The team will be lead by Australia’s most capped female hockey player, Madonna Blyth, heading to her third Games.
“It’s obviously a privilege and special every time that I lead the girls out onto the pitch, but at an Olympic Games it’s even more so,” Blyth said.
Joining Blyth in her third Games campaign will be Casey Sablowski with London 2012 Olympians Emily Smith and Jodie Kenny at their second Olympics.
Newcomers are Brooke Peris, Edwina Bone, Gabrielle Nance, Georgina Parker, Georgina Morgan, Grace Stewart, Jane-Anne Claxton, Karri McMahon, Kathryn Slattery, Kirstin Dwyer, Mariah Williams and Rachael Lynch will all make their Olympic debut.
TALLENT FILLS SALLY’S ROLE
Walker Jared Tallent has replaced the injured Sally Pearson as Athletics Team Captain for Rio 2016.
Tallent will be joined in the Athletics Leadership Group by Alana Boyd (Qld, pole vault), Kim Mickle (WA, throws), Lauren Wells (ACT, 400m hurdles) and Chris Erickson (Vic, 50km race walk).
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