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Jessica HalloranChief Sports Writer

Jessica Halloran is a Walkley award-winning sports writer. She has been covering sport for two decades and has reported from Olympic Games, world swimming and athletics championships, the rugby World Cup as well as the AFL and NRL finals series. In 2017 she wrote Jelena Dokic’s biography Unbreakable which went on to become a bestseller.

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OlympicsOlympics

TOKYO, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 15: Bronze medallist, Kurtis Marschall of Team Australia, poses for a photo with the national flag following the Men's Pole Vault Final on day three of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at National Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Top Aussie athlete splits with coach as China circles

World championship bronze medallist has parted ways with his coach as China circles Australia’s most successful athletics coach of the past decade.

Jessica Halloran

OLYMPICSOlympics

For Hamish McLaughlan column.... Boxer Jason Whateley training with coach Marcos Amado at Pure Boxing Gym. . Pic: Michael Klein

‘Too much advantage’: boxing coach backs transgender ban

The Australian Sports Commission is ‘monitoring’ the International Olympic Committee’s moves to a ban on transgender women in female events, but local laws could limit action.

Brendan Bradford and Jessica Halloran

Focus on warm-upNRL

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 02: Eliesa Katoa of Tonga is attended to by a trainer during the Men's Pacific Championships match between the New Zealand Kiwis and Tonga at Eden Park on November 02, 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

NRL to probe brutal head knocks as Katoa recovers

Tonga and Melbourne Storm star Eli Katoa, who underwent brain surgery for multiple collisions, could soon be released from hospital but won’t be able fly home immediately.

Jessica Halloran

ConcussionNRL

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 02: Eliesa Katoa of Tonga is attended to by a trainer during the Men's Pacific Championships match between the New Zealand Kiwis and Tonga at Eden Park on November 02, 2025 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Katoa’s playing future in doubt as inquiry looks at warm-up incidents

NRL’s review into Eli Katoa’s brain surgery will examine monitoring warm-ups for the first time, as rugby league figures demand answers over the horrific incident.

Jessica Halloran and Martin Gabor

concussionNRL

Eli Katoa x x x x

‘Could have been catastrophic’: expert’s alarm at traumatic head knocks

After receiving three separate blows to the head, Melbourne Storm and Tonga star Eli Katoa underwent emergency surgery. A leading sports neuroscientist says the outcome could have been far worse.

Jessica Halloran and Fatima Kdouh

CORRECTION / Netherlands' #01 Steven Van De Velde waits for the ball in the men's pool B beach volleyball match between Norway and Netherlands during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris on August 2, 2024. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) / âThe erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Thomas SAMSON has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Netherlands' #01 Steven Van De Velde] instead of [Norway's #01 Anders Berntsen Mol]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.â

Olympic volleyballer van de Velde banned from Australia

Convicted child rapist and Olympic beach volleyballer Steven van de Velde’s attempt to play at the world championships in Adelaide next month has been denied by the Australian government.

Jessica Halloran

ExclusiveSport

TOPSHOT - Belgium's Nicky Degrendele (L) and China's Yuan Liying (R) suffer a crash during the women's track cycling keirin quarter-final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, south-west of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

Cyclists susceptible to long-term concussion effects, study warns

A new study has revealed that cyclists involved in multiple crashes are in danger of suffering the same severe long-term outcomes as repeatedly concussed footballers.

Jessica Halloran

CommentarySport

CORRECTION / Netherlands' #01 Steven Van De Velde waits for the ball in the men's pool B beach volleyball match between Norway and Netherlands during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris on August 2, 2024. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) / âThe erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Thomas SAMSON has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Netherlands' #01 Steven Van De Velde] instead of [Norway's #01 Anders Berntsen Mol]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.â

Why would a child rapist want to play where he is not wanted?

Convicted criminal should withdraw from the World Championships in Adelaide and stop putting his personal redemption arc ahead of the sport.

Jessica Halloran

ExclusiveRugby Union

NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 11: James O'Connor of Leicester Tigers looks on during the Gallagher PREM match between Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens on October 11, 2025 in Northampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

R360 targets Jones and O’Connor

Japan coach Eddie Jones and veteran fly-half James O’Connor are being targeted by R360, as the rebel league tries to secure talent for its rugby union competition.

Jessica Halloran

ExclusiveRugby Union

As international stars including South African World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, left, and Wallabies centre Len Ikitau are linked to R360, former Wallabies and current Japan head coach Eddie Jones, right has welcomed the advent of the rebel rugby union competition. Pictures: Getty Images/News Corp

R360 gets its first high profile backer

Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says rugby union is crying out for a great disruption as South Africa’s inspirational skipper becomes one of the rebel competition’s main recruitment targets.

Jessica Halloran

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/jessica-halloran