Tassie hockey star Joshua Beltz will join the Australian Olympic team in Tokyo

Tasmanian Joshua Beltz has been elevated to the official Australian Olympic hockey team, one week out from the Tokyo games. LATEST >>

Tasmanian Joshua Beltz will become the first New Town High School alumni to become an Olympian, after joining thirteen athletes in being elevated to the official Australian Olympic Team this morning.

Initially selected as a reserve with the world number one men’s hockey team the Kookaburras, Beltz will now stay in the Olympic village and can be selected in any matchday squad of sixteen.

Beltz, 26, joins four-time Olympian and co-captain Eddie Ockenden as Tasmanian hockey representatives.

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Tokyo will be the fourth consecutive Olympics whereby Tasmania has had multiple athletes selected for the men’s hockey side and continues its ongoing representation since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

“I’m ecstatic about the extension of the squad and I got told at the start of our training session briefing while in Darwin for a heat acclimation camp,” Beltz said.

“I’m also aware that they only pick sixteen for each game, so I still need to prove that I am good enough to be in the starting sixteen, not just for the round games, but hopefully for the finals.”

“Being based in the Athletes Village is great now, as beforehand I was going to have to shuttle bus in each morning, and not really have my own space when there.”

“The best part of the news was getting to share it with my girlfriend Hilary and my family. They’ve sacrificed a lot over many years for me, so I’m excited to represent them and the wider Tasmanian community.”

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The Hockeyroos elevated Madison Fitzpatrick and Greta Hayes, the latter played junior hockey with Tasmanian underage sides and representing DiamondBacks Hockey Club before rising into the National Squad.