Australian sprint star Rohan Browning locked in for largest ever travelling Australian Olympics athletics team

Not since the Sydney Olympics in 2000 has the Australian athletics team been as big as the one headed to Paris.

Australian sprint star Rohan Browning will contest the 100m at the Paris Olympics after a rankings boost ensured he was part of the 75-member athletics squad confirmed on Monday.

Having fallen to 57 on the world rankings, and outside 56 automatic qualifications spots, amid a drop in form, Browning has risen to 54th after the governing body of track and field processed its final calculations, enough for him to hit a second Olympics.

Browning could contest both the individual 100m and be part of the 4x100m relay team, with Australia to have runners in both the men’s and women’s events for the first time since the Sydney Games in 2000.

Australian sprinter Rohan Browning has qualified for the Olympics. Picture: Michael Klein

As 1500m star Jessica Hull ran the fifth fastest time in history in Paris in the event she’ll contest at the Olympics, 55 track and field athletes were locked in, adding to the 20 selected earlier this year for an overall 75-member athletics squad.

There are 34 athletes making their Olympic debut, including teenage sprint sensation Torrie Lewis, who is eyeing off the 200m as well as the 4x100m relay after a stunning year that included winning a Diamond League event and helping the women’s 4x100m qualify for Paris.

“After having such an amazing year, getting the official selection is just a relief,” the 19-year-old said.

Torrie Lewis is off to her first Olympics. Picture Michael Klein

“I’ve always thought I could make an individual event, but actually getting the call is so exciting.

“Ever since watching the London 2012 Games it’s been something I’ve wanted to do, originally for gymnastics but now for running. After Tokyo is when I really started having Paris in my sights.

“I feel very proud that I’m able to represent Australia and have the country backing me. It makes me even more motivated to run better.”

After surging to a surprise bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, decathlete Ash Moloney has overcome injury challenges to secure his second appearance.

“Relief is definitely the word that comes to mind, considering the shape I’ve been in with injuries over the last couple of years,” he said. “I wanted to prove to myself I could get back up to the standard I was at pre-Tokyo and I have done that. I’m in shape and ready to compete at the Olympics once again.

Ashley Moloney won bronze in Tokyo. Picture: Alex Coppel

“I’ve had to adapt and evolve as an athlete. I’m still young but before when I was younger, I went head-on in every competition, but my body takes a little longer to recover these days.

“I’ve had to be smart and there is significantly more strategy to my competition and training and that has helped me find my way back to this point.

“Last time I went to the Olympics, my aim wasn’t to win a medal, it was to do as well as I could and be competitive. The goal remains the same this time around and if that puts me in a position where I can compete for a medal, I will go for it.”

The team is the second largest ever behind Sydney 2000 and largest sent away to a Games.

Australian athletics team for Paris 2024 – 75 athletes

Olympic debut (34 athletes):

Liam Adcock, Joshua Azzopardi, Abbey Caldwell, Ella Connolly, Peyton Craig, Joseph Deng, Jacob Despard, Kristie Edwards, Cara Feain-Ryan, Taryn Gollshewsky, Daniel Golubovic, Mia Gross, Reece Holder, Claudia Hollingsworth, Lachlan Kennedy, Ebony Lane, Calab Law, Torrie Lewis, Bree Masters, Cameron McEntyre, Chris Mitrevski, Celeste Mucci, Connor Murphy, Camryn Newton-Smith, Allanah Pitcher, Stephanie Ratcliffe, Yual Reath, Lauren Ryan, Olivia Sandery, Adam Spencer, Aleksandra Stoilova, Sebastian Sultana, Will Thompson, Tori West, Tayleb Willis and Alanah Yukich.

Second Games (26 athletes):

Joel Baden, Izzi Batt-Doyle, Ellie Beer, Catriona Bisset, Rohan Browning, Ben Buckingham, Sarah Carli, Amy Cashin, Liz Clay, Matt Clarke, Rose Davies, Sinead Diver, Georgia Griffith, Rebecca Henderson, Olli Hoare, Jessica Hull, Michelle Jenneke, Nina Kennedy, Mackenzie Little, Stewart McSweyn, Morgan McDonald, Ash Moloney, Jemima Montag, Nicola Olyslagers, Kyle Swan and Declan Tingay

Third Games (13 athletes):

Liam Adams, Kelsey-Lee Barber, Peter Bol, Brooke Buschkuehl, Rhydian Cowley, Matthew Denny, Linden Hall, Kurtis Marschall, Eleanor Patterson, Brett Robinson, Brandon Starc, Jessica Stenson and Pat Tiernan.

Fourth Games (2 athletes):

Genevieve Gregson, Kathryn Mitchell.

Originally published as Australian sprint star Rohan Browning locked in for largest ever travelling Australian Olympics athletics team