Teenage footballer Ellie Carpenter cracks Matildas Rio Olympic team at 16

SYDNEY schoolgirl Ellie Carpenter remembers she was lying on her stomach under a tent made with a sheet in her lounge room the exact moment she decided she was going to the Olympics.

Ellie Carpenter is heading to the Olympics at just 16.

SYDNEY schoolgirl Ellie Carpenter remembers she was lying on her stomach under a tent made with a sheet in the loungeroom of her family home in Cowra the exact moment she decided she was going to the Olympics.

The Matildas defender, now the youngest member of the Australian team heading to Rio, was just four years old and watching the Athens Olympics late one night with her brother in the home made cubby house.

“I decided right then I was going,’’ revealed Carpenter, who says she feels like she is walking around in “a dream’’ after being selected for her first Olympics at just 16.

Ellie Carpenter is currently the youngest member of the Australian team heading to Rio.

“Later, watching Sally Pearson win gold (four years ago in London), I just got even more inspired.

“That was it for me. I knew I wanted a gold too.’’

Gold is the colour of the medal the Matildas are chasing at the Rio Olympics despite more formally being ranked “around fourth’’ in the world behind the US, France and Germany according to Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.

But for Carpenter just making the team heading to Rio was a moment for celebration.

“I screamed and then I just cried tears of joy,’’ said the Westfield High school student who dropped athletics for football when she was 12.

“It still doesn’t feel real to be honest. I’m so excited but I don’t know how to calm myself down.’’

Carpenter was just four months old when Sydney hosted the Olympics and just four years old when teammate and Matildas linchpin Lisa De Vanna made her Olympic debut at the Athens Games in 2014.

Lisa De Vanna celebrates her goal with teammate Caitlin Foord during the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Currently she will not only be the youngest on the football pitch in Rio but potentially the youngest member of an Australia team which still has roughly 200 athletes to be confirmed.

“My mum and dad and some of my aunties will be coming over which will be really cool. Their support means the world to me,’’ Carpenter said.

De Vanna is the only member of the 18-strong team to have played at an Olympics with Australian finishing fifth at its last Games appearance in 2004.

“Obviously gold is what everyone is fighting for and dreams about but if we come back with any medal it would a massive boost for women’s football in Australia,’’ said the Matildas captain.

The Matildas are chasing a medal at their first Olympics since 2004.

THE RIO TEAM

Goalkeepers: Lydia Williams (Houston Dash/Canberra United), Mackenzie Arnold (Perth Glory)

Defenders: Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar), Laura Alleway (Orlando Pride / Melbourne City), Alanna Kennedy (WNY Flash / Sydney FC), Stephanie Catley (Orlando Pride / Melbourne City), Ellie Carpenter (Western Sydney Wanderers)

Midfielders: Elise Kellond-Knight (Potsdam Turbine), Emily van Egmond (FFC Frankfurt), Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar), Tameka Butt (Brisbane Roar), Caitlin Foord (Perth Glory), Chloe Logarzo (Eskilstuna United / Newcastle Jets)

Forwards: Lisa De Vanna (Melbourne City), Michelle Heyman (Canberra United), Kyah Simon (Boston Breakers / Sydney FC), Samantha Kerr (Sky Blue FC / Perth Glory), Larissa Crummer (Melbourne City)