Brisbane 2032: Tassie’s youngsters gunning for Games
It’s still seven years away, but the quest to realise their 2032 Olympic dream starts now for some talented Tassie youngsters. Here’s 21 young guns who could book a ticket to Brisbane.
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It might seem a long way off, but their development in immediate years will be vital for the chances of some potential young Tasmanian stars featuring at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
We highlight a few who are capable of realising their Olympic dreams in front of a home crowd.
SIANNA ADKINS (ATHLETICS)
Adkins is a heptathlete, but is already the top ranked javelin thrower for her age in the world. The 15-year-old showed her class at last weekend’s state championships by eclipsing the open javelin record on her first attempt with a throw of 44.58m, beating the previous mark by more than a metre-and-a-half.
She also won a handful of other individual events at the carnival, and has given up basketball to focus on athletics.
“I need to focus on my athletics, as I knew I was going to get further with that than basketball. That was an easy decision.
“I reckon I’ll be able to do both (javelin and heptathlon). I’m good at the heptathlon as well as javelin, which is in that event.
“I’ll keep going forward with both of them, and if I can’t do one I’ll think about that later.”
JACOB FURPHY (BASKETBALL)
The Smithton star has long been rated one of Australian basketball’s next big things, and has only reinforced that recently.
He was chosen to make his Boomers debut in youthful Asia Cup qualifying teams recently, and has also signed to play with back-to-back NCAA champions University of Connecticut.
His former junior coaches rave about his work ethic and basketball IQ, and that will only improve in arguably the best system in the college game.
“The kid has great belief in himself and he has a lot of courage to attack this opportunity,” current JackJumpers assistant and former Basketball Tasmania head coach Mark Radford told this masthead .
“He’s not going to walk out of there with ‘what ifs’, there’ll be none of them with him. The biggest challenge will be from an athletic standpoint, in a very good conference, at a very good school.
“He’s going to have competition, not only with his opponents but with his teammates. He’s never shied away from those challenges.”
In typical 18-year-old fashion, Furphy described his Boomers selection as “pretty sick”.
“I suppose it hasn’t really hit me yet, but I’m sure it will. It’s been a crazy week and I’m sure it will sink in, probably when I get on the plane,” Furphy told this masthead.
“For this trip I’m not holding too high expectations, just to get on that team and get that experience is the main thing I’ll get out of it.
“It’s pretty sick as an 18-year-old to even get that experience. Whether I get on the court or I don’t, I’ll make the most of it for sure.”
JACK WOODBERRY (TRIATHLON)
Woodberry will defend his Oceania Junior Championships title he claimed in New Zealand last year at the Devonport Triathlon on Sunday, and also won the national title a couple of years later.
He was also the first Tasmanian since Jake Birtwhistle in 2012 to win the Australian Junior Super Sprint Championships in 2023.
The 16-year-old has his sights set on making the Olympics as early as Los Angeles 2028, and given his rapid progress you wouldn’t rule it out, but Brisbane looms as a golden chance give he should be experienced at the top level by then.
“If you love something it’s pretty easy to get up and train like I do. Some people wouldn’t find it easy but I’m always motivated to do it.”
Woodberry finished fourth in his Oceania championships title defence at Devonport last weekend.
FELICITY WILSON-HAFFENDEN (CYCLING)
The powerful prodigy has taken no time bursting onto the scene as one of the country’s most promising cyclists, and it would be a shock if she doesn’t achieve her dream of wearing the green and gold in Brisbane.
After winning gold medals at the national titles, Wilson-Haffenden’s coming-of-age moment arrived when she took out the world junior time trial title at Scotland in August, 2023.
“The whole Australian team has put so much into getting me this medal it’s not just me, I mean I get on the bike, but there is so much behind the scenes that happens to make this happen,” she said after the win.
I’m so proud to represent the green and gold and I’m so proud to be able to bring this home for them.”
Wilson-Haffenden won the race despite dealing with pain from a crash in the junior road race just days before.
“Personally, I felt like I let a lot of people down because a lot of people put time and money and energy into getting me there, so it was just about trying to reset put that all behind me, and put full focus on the TT.”
HAMISH MCKENZIE (CYCLING)
McKenzie has already juniors silver and under-23 bronze at the world championships, and was looking to add gold to that before a serious crash when training at Monaco in September ended those hopes.
He returned to cycling by finishing second at his home event the Gilmore Classic in Launceston, part of the Christmas period TasCarnivals circuit.
“I was itching to get out there. I was sitting at home basically in my bed and not being able to do anything for a while, it was frustrating,” McKenzie told this masthead.
“It was pretty scary, quite a fast crash downhill. I was pretty lucky to be honest, it could have been a lot worse.
“Hopefully it’s a better year for me next year, that’s the plan.”
McKenzie will transfer over to Jayco’s world tour team this year and is well on track to help continue Tasmania’s strong cycling pedigree.
JONAS SHELVERTON (CYCLING)
The Hobart native won silver in the junior men’s road race at the Road Nationals in Perth in January.
It followed his overall tour title at the Tour of Gippsland last year, where he also grabbed a stage victory.
Shelverton also has won national titles medals on the track and is part of the ARA Skip Capital team.
AIDAN O’CONNOR (CRICKET)
Cricket is pushing for inclusion in the 2028 and 2032 Games, and the young all-rounder might well be entrenched in Australia’s set up by then.
He made his Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup debuts this season and didn’t look out of place, the highlight top scoring for the Tigers with 53 in his debut Shield knock.
The 18-year-old was part of Australia’s under-19 World Cup win last year, and looks destined to become the next young all-round on Tasmania’s lengthy production line to break into the Hurricanes’ BBL line-up.
CHELSEA SCOLYER (ATHLETICS)
The north-west sprinter won under-20 silver at last year’s national championships, and still boasts a handful of state records including the open 100m benchmark.
She was chosen to represent Australia for the first time at the World Under-20 Championships at Peru in August, but her dream was shattered by a hamstring injury suffered in the heats.
Scolyer battled back to win the state 100m title earlier this month, and will be a major athlete to watch at the looming national championships in Perth.
“To get past that (world championships injury), not only physically but mentally, was one of the hardest parts of my career,” Scolyer told this masthead after her win at the state titles.
“I was really fit in January, and went to run an interclub after the national relay camp, and unfortunately did it (hamstring) again.
“I was in good shape and all of a sudden I was back to square one, which was pretty debilitating.
“To do it at the world under 20s, I honestly didn’t know if I was going to come back from it. “I got really depressed and it’s important to highlight athletics is just a sport, but it does take up mental health for elite junior athletes.”
LACHLAN BREWER (BASKETBALL)
The Sacramento State freshman was part of the ‘three headed monster’ alongside Kye Savage and Jacob Furphy that led Tasmania to bronze at last year’s under-20 national championships.
He has shot almost 45 per cent from three point territory in college ball this year and has the right skill set to be a potential future Boomer.
KYE SAVAGE (BASKETBALL)
Yet another prodigious talent from the thriving north-west, Savage represented Australia at the under-17 World Cup in 2022 and signed a three year deal with Brisbane Bullets last year.
The first two years are as a development player, before being elevated to a roster spot for the 2026-27 NBL season via a team option.
He was lured to the Bullets by then coach Justin Schueller who has since departed.
“We feel like he’s got levels above this league in him and that’s going to be the exciting part, how he progresses to achieve those goals while helping us as a collective get our goals along the way.”
Savage’s speed and scoring ability was on full display at last year’s under-20 national championships, where he was the tournament’s top scorer with an average of over 24 points per game.
NASH WALKER (BASKETBALL)
Walker has grown up playing hoops alongside Jacob Furphy in Smithton, and has already represented Australia at the under-17 World Cup and Asian Cup.
A guard blessed with height, strong defence and an ability to score, Walker has been tested day in, day out by Furphy when growing up and that work ethic can take him places.
LUCY AHERNE (BASKETBALL)
Devonport’s Aherne has already worn the green and gold at under-17 level and was last month selected in Australia’s squad for the under-19 World Cup.
The tournament will be held at Czechia in July.
Aherne is a strong shooter who also prides herself on her disruptive defensive game.
“I’m a very quiet person when I meet people, but on the court I usually bring energy.”
ANDIE SMITH (BASKETBALL)
Smith would join her older sister, Alanna, as Opals Olympians should she manage to grace that stage.
WNBA star Alanna was arguably Australia’s best player in their bronze medal-winning campaign in Paris, and the 16-year-old centre recently accepted a scholarship with Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra.
“I think it will be really helpful (for my development),” Smith said of her acceptance.
“It’s the best environment in the country with great facilities and the best coaches, so I feel really lucky.”
Smith’s father, Darren, played over 200 games in the NBL and is currently part of the JackJumpers’ front office.
VIOLET OWEN (ATHLETICS)
The 15 year old has strung together a host of good results at Nationals and All Schools Nationals level, and given the slow developing nature of middle distance running could still be entering her best years by 2032.
The Sandy Bay runner finished third in the under-16 1500m and second in 800m at December’s All Schools Championships.
CHANEL CHARLES (ATHLETICS)
Charles announced herself as one of the state’s most progressive athletes, breaking the state under-16 400m record when winning the race at last year’s All Schools National Championships (55.20 secs).
With six national medals to her name and a handful of other state records the Launceston 15 year old has a bright future.
TOM FADER (SAILING)
The 17-year-old is targeting racing in the world championships after winning the state Laser title.
“It will be my third world championships,” Fader said.
“I’ve been to two world championships competing in the ILCA 4 class, which has the smaller sail, so this would be my first for the ILCA 6 class, which is the same boat but a bigger sail,” he said.
“For women it’s the Olympic class, but for the men you go up to a bigger sail for the Olympics.”
INDY COOPER (SAILING)
Competed in the 2023 ILCA 4 Youth World Championships at Greece in 2023, alongside Fader, as part of Australia’s 13-sailor squad.
JADE DICKINSON, INDIA WILLIAMS (SAILING)
The 14 year olds were too strong in their class at this year’s national junior championships, and also secured a top ten finish in the open class.
OLIVER SIMS (CYCLING)
The 19-year-old finished fourth overall in last year’s Tour of Tasmania and is currently riding for UCI Continental team Pogi Team Gusto Ljublijana.
Known for his ability as a climber, Sims is regarded as the state’s best young road cycling prospect and was one of four Tasmanians invited to train with Tour de France winner and Olympian Simon Clarke’s junior development team last year.
OLIVER STEBBINGS (HOCKEY)
A two-time National Player of the Tournament at Under 18 level, including Tasmania’s historic tournament win in 2023. Stebbings is firmly established in the Australian Under 21 side, the Burras, and will likely be rewarded with selection in the Australian Senior Development squad, entitling him to expose within the Kookaburras training environment.
The 19-year old is highly rated for his elite passing range, with precision aerials, and reading of the play to intercept lines and clean up as a free defender. If he continues to develop physically, he’ll have a big role to play for the Kookaburras in 2032.
ANGUS MCMULLEN (HOCKEY)
The 16-year-old was also player of the tournament at Under 18 level last year, has exquisite fundamental skills and a high work ethic for his age.
McMullen is the nephew of former Tassie Tigers star Marcus Richardson and has an identical trademark tomahawk goal shot that is lethal.
Also in the mix: Maddison Brooks (20, Paris Olympian) and goalkeeper Magnus McCausland (20)
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