Tassie tracker: When our athletes compete in Paris
Tasmania will have 13 athletes to cheer on at the Olympics after two track stars were selected for Paris on Monday. Here’s who’s been chosen, and a comprehensive day-by-day guide on when you can watch them go for gold.
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A handful of Tasmanians have had their dreams realised with Olympic selection in recent days. Here’s who has booked their ticket to Paris thus far, and when you can watch them compete against the world’s best.
EDDIE OCKENDEN (HOCKEY)
The 37-year-old will become the first Australian hockey player to feature in five Olympics, equalling rower Anthony Edwards as Tasmania’s longest-serving Olympian.
He began his journey as the youngest members of the Kookaburras squad in 2008 when the team won bronze, and in Paris he will be the elder statesman.
Although he is no longer captain, he will be one of the leaders Australia turns to as they look to go one better than the silver medal they claimed in Tokyo after losing a heartbreaking penalty shootout to Belgium in the final.
He has played well over 400 games for his country and an elusive Olympic gold would be a fitting reward as he enters the twilight years of his career.
JOSH BELTZ (HOCKEY)
While Ockenden knows the pressure of an Olympics like the back of his hand, Beltz will approach Paris with more clarity than Tokyo.
He was named as a travelling reserve in 2021 but eventually replaced the injured Tom Craig and more than justified his inclusion.
Sustained strong displays in lead-up tournaments ensured he was named in the initial squad this time around, which should help him prepare mentally.
“As the day gets closer it is definitely in the back of your mind, and naturally you start to wonder what the selection panel are thinking,” Beltz told The Mercury this week.
“The team has had a really good start to the year, and I have been fortunate to involved in a lot of good games, so I just tried to take solace in the thought that I had done what I could do.”
Kookaburras pool game schedule: Argentina (Saturday, July 27, 9.15pm); Ireland (Monday, July 29, 6pm); Belgium (Wednesday, July 31, 3.45am); New Zealand (Thursday, August 1, 6.30pm); India (Friday, August 2, 9.15pm); Men’s quarter finals (Sunday, August 4-Monday, August 5); Men’s semi finals (Tuesday, August 6-Wednesday, August 7); Bronze medal match (Thursday, August 8, 10pm); Gold medal match (Friday, August 9, 3am)
MADDISON BROOKS (HOCKEY)
The Hobart teenager was selected as a travelling reserve after breaking into the Hockeyroos set up last year.
She was chosen over some more experienced rivals due to her versatility, and it remains to be seen whether she will emulate Beltz three years ago by eventually squeezing into the playing squad.
Brooks played for club side OHA on the weekend before her selection as a reserve was announced on Monday.
“I’m definitely proud to be from Tassie and its important for me to stay connected with my OHA teammates and hockey friends back home,” Brooks told The Mercury.
“The level of hockey is continuing to improve and it’s great to see where the local competition is heading, plus its always nice to come home and see everyone.”
“It was nice to be back playing with the Ships in what was a hard-fought match, with a tough midfield battle.”
Hockeyroos pool game schedule: South Africa (Sunday, July 28, 8.45pm); Great Britain (Tuesday, July 30, 1am); USA (Wednesday, July 31, 9.15pm); Argentina (Friday, August 2, 4.15am); Spain (Saturday, August 3, 8.45pm); Women’s quarter finals (Monday, August 5-Tuesday, August 6); Women’s semi finals (Wednesday, August 7-Thursday, August 8); Bronze medal match (Friday, August 9, 10pm); Gold medal match (Saturday, August 10, 4am)
ARIARNE TITMUS (SWIMMING)
‘Arnie’ shattered the 200m freestyle world record at the Australian swimming trials in Brisbane last month in a race for the ages against Mollie O’Callaghan.
The world and Olympic champions were locked in a dogfight all the way with Titmus prevailing in 1:52.33, while O’Callaghan (1:52.48) also beat the previous world benchmark she set at last year’s world championships.
Australia is favourite for the 200m freestyle relay gold, and go two better than their bronze medal in Tokyo, after they set a new world record at the world championships.
Titmus now holds the world record for the 200m and 400m, and won the gold in both events in Tokyo.
She also won the 800m at the national titles after claiming the Olympic silver medal three years ago.
Schedule: 400m freestyle heats (Saturday, July 27, 7pm); 400m freestyle final (Sunday, July 28, 4.55am); 200m freestyle heats (Sunday, July 28, 7pm); 200m freestyle semis (Monday, July 29, 6am); 200m freestyle final (Tuesday, July 30, 5.48am); 200m freestyle relay final (Friday, August 2, 5.48am); 800m freestyle heats (Friday, August 2, 7pm); 800m freestyle final (Sunday, August 4, 5.09am)
MAX GIULIANI (SWIMMING)
Giuliani admitted he was close to giving up swimming to become a tradie after he booked his Olympic spot by winning the 200m freestyle at the Australian trials.
The 20-year-old’s decision to follow his coach Paul Crosswell to Brisbane in 2022 paid off after initially being adamant he would always remain in Tasmania.
A former surf lifesaver at Carlton Park Surf Lifesaving Club, he signalled his intent be a serious Games threat after he won the 100m and 200m titles at the USA Pro-Championship in August last year.
Schedule: 200m freestyle heats (Sunday, July 28, 7pm); 200m freestyle semis (Monday, July 29, 4.51am); 200m freestyle final (Tuesday, July 30, 4.43am); 200m freestyle relay final (Wednesday, July 31, 5.59am)
SARAH HAWE (ROWING)
The 36-year-old Huon rower, who alternates between Sydney and Hobart, earned her place at a second Olympics in the women’s eights.
She will look to help the crew build on their fifth place finish at the last Games in Tokyo.
Schedule: Women’s eight heats (Monday, July 29, 8pm); Women’s eight repechages (Thursday, August 1, 6.10pm); Women’s eight final (Saturday, August 3, 6.50pm)
GEORGIA BAKER (CYCLING)
Launceston’s Baker enters her third Olympics in sterling form after winning three national championships on the track in December, and won two silver medals in last August’s world championships in Scotland.
AOC chef de mission Anna Meares - a former Olympian who won gold in track cycling, said the team had a good balance of experience and youth.
“All the athletes selected can be proud of their efforts, and grateful for those who have supported and pushed them. I look forward to seeing them compete in Paris.”
Just as adept on the road as the track, Baker will compete solely on the velodrome. It’s unclear what events she will compete in, but she raced in the team pursuit at Tokyo and Rio, as well as the madison in 2021.
Possible schedule: Women’s team pursuit qualifying (Wednesday, August 7, 1.30am); Women’s team pursuit first round (Wednesay, August 7, 9.52pm); Women’s team pursuit final (Thursday, August 8, 2.57am); Women’s madison (Saturday, August 10, 2.09am)
JACK MCVEIGH AND WILL MAGNAY (BASKETBALL)
The JackJumpers NBL championship winners have both come from well back in the field to be shock selections in the Boomers squad announced on Friday.
The pair survived the final cut with Olympic bronze medallists Chris Goulding, Matisse Thybulle and defensive beast Xavier Cooks all missing out.
Magnay was a major factor in the Jackies’ maiden championship with his ability to defend the paint and score inside, while McVeigh’s outside shooting got him the nod after a superb outing against China this week where he top scored with 24 points.
Schedule: Boomers v Spain (Saturday, July 27, 7pm); Boomers v Canada (Tuesday, July 30, 9.30pm); Boomers v Greece (Friday, August 2, 9.30pm); Men’s quarter finals (Tuesday, August 6-Wednesday, August 7); Men’s semi finals (Friday, August 9); Men’s medal games (Bronze - Saturday, August 10, 7pm; Gold - Sunday, August 11 (5.30am)
ALANNA SMITH (BASKETBALL)
The daughter of former Hobart Devil and NBL 200-gamer Darren, the forward is preparing for her second Olympics.
The 27-year-old was born in Hobart and moved to Melbourne where she played for Wesley Vale College, before a five-year stint on the US college circuit at Stanford.
She has established herself as a WNBA star after being picked up by Phoenix Mercury with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Smith is having a strong season for current team Minnesota, averaging nearly 12 points and just over five rebounds and three assists per game to help guide the Lynx to a 15-6 start to the season.
She also ranks second in the league for three-point shooting with a career high 47.7 per cent.
Alanna’s younger sister, Andie, is also a rising star and a go-to player for Tasmanian representative teams.
Schedule: Opals v Nigeria (Monday, July 29, 7pm); Opals v Canada (Thursday, August 1, 9.30pm); Opals v France (Monday, August 5, 5am); Women’s quarter finals (Wednesday, August 7-Thursday, August 8); Women’s semi finals (Saturday, August 10); Women’s medal games (Sunday, August 11)
JACOB DESPARD (ATHLETICS)
Although he didn’t qualify for the individual race, the 27-year-old has put together some strong results including bronze at the national championships in April.
He joined forces with Sebastian Sultana, Calab Law and Josh Azzopardi to qualify Australia’s team in the Bahamas.
But the wildcard on how heavily he will be involved in Paris could be Rohan Browning, who produced a world ranking just high enough to squeeze into the individual event.
“We’ve got a good group of boys at the moment in the (relay) team. I think we can do something special, we’re already knocking of the door of the Australian record,” Despard said after the national championships.
Schedule: Men’s 4x100m relay round one (Thursday, August 8, 7.35pm); Men’s 4x100m relay final (Saturday, August 10, 3.45am)
STEWART MCSWEYN (ATHLETICS)
The King Island middle distance runner has hit a purple patch at the perfect time to earn his spot on a second Olympics team.
He has posted qualifying times for the 1500m and 5000m, having finished seventh in the former at his debut Olympics in Tokyo.
This week the 29-year-old finished second behind Kenya’s Jacob Krop at a Diamond League race in Paris.
In May at the USATF LA Grand Prix he clocked a personal best and Olympic qualifying time of 12:56.07 in the 5000m, the second-fastest all time by an Australian behind Craig Mottram’s 20-year national record of 12:55.76.
However, the 1500m final is scheduled for the same day as the opening round of the 5000m).
Schedule: Men’s 1500m round one (Friday, August 2, 7.05pm); Men’s 1500m repechage round (Sunday, August 4, 3.15am); Men’s 1500m semi final (Monday, August 5, 5.15am); Men’s 1500m final (Wednesday, August 7, 4.50am); Men’s 5000m round one (Wednesday, August 7, 7.10pm); Men’s 5000m final (Sunday, August 11, 4am)
ALEXANDRA VINEY (ROWING)
The 32-year-old became the first Tasmanian to be selected for the Paralympic Games this week.
The Melbourne-based rower will compete as part of the PR3 mixed coxed four crew, after featuring in the same race where Australia came fourth in Tokyo.
Viney suffered severe injuries in a high speed accident involving a drunk driver in Launceston as an 18-year-old.
Every time someone mentions fourth, as if it wasn’t bad enough before, this year seems to sting even more,” she told The Mercury this week.
“My crew and I are based in Canberra now out of the AIS, and this is the first time the crew has been centralised.
“We’ve been in Canberra since the beginning of April so to have that time together is immense. In the lead up to Tokyo we rowed together for about four days in six months, so we’re excited to see that synergy put into practice.
Schedule: PR3 Mixed Coxed Four - PR3Mix4 + Rep (Saturday, August 31, 7.30pm); PR3 Mixed Coxed Four - PR3Mix4 + Final B (Sunday, September 1, 6.50pm); PR3 Mixed Coxed Four - PR3Mix4 + Final A (Sunday, September 1, 8.30pm)
TIMELINE FOR TASSIE ATHLETES COMPETING
SATURDAY, JULY 27
* Swimming (Ariarne Titmus)
400m freestyle heats (7pm)
* Mens basketball (Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay
Pool game v Spain (7pm)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Pool game v Argentina (9.15pm)
SUNDAY, JULY 28
* Swimming (Ariarne Titmus)
400m freestyle final (4.55am)
* Swimming (Ariarne Titmus)
200m freestyle heats (7pm)
* Swimming (Max Giuliani)
200m freestyle heats (7pm)
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Pool game v South Africa (8.45pm)
MONDAY, JULY 29
* Swimming (Max Giuliani
200m freestyle semis (4.51am)
* Swimming (Ariarne Titmus)
200m freestyle semis (6am)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Pool game v Ireland (6pm)
* Women’s basketball (Alanna Smith)
Pool game v Nigeria (7pm)
* Rowing (Sarah Hawe)
Women’s eight heats (8pm)
TUESDAY, JULY 30
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Pool game v Great Britain (1am)
* Swimming (Max Giuliani)
200m freestyle final (4.43am)
* Swimming (Ariarne Titmus)
200m freestyle final (5.48am)
* Men’s basketball (Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay)
Pool game v Canada (9.30pm)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Pool game v Belgium (3.45am)
* Swimming (Max Giuliani)
200m freestyle relay final (Wednesday, July 31, 5.59am)
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Pool game v USA (9.15pm)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
* Rowing (Sarah Hawe)
Women’s eight repechages (6.10pm)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Pool game v NZ (6.30pm)
* Women’s basketball (Alanna Smith)
Pool game v Canada (9.30pm)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Pool game v Argentina (4.15am)
* Swimming (Ariarne Titmus)
- 200m freestyle relay final (5.48am)
- 800m freestyle heats (7pm)
* Athletics (Stewart McSweyn)
Men’s 1500m round one (7.05pm)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Pool game v India (9.15pm)
* Men’s basketball (Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay)
Pool game v Greece (9.30pm)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3
* Rowing (Sarah Hawe)
Women’s eight final (6.50pm)
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Pool game v Spain (8.45pm)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
* Athletics (Stewart McSweyn)
Men’s 1500m repechage round (3.15am)
* Swimming (Ariarne Titmus)
800m freestyle final (5.09am)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Quarter finals: (6pm and 8.30pm)
MONDAY, AUGUST 5
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Quarter finals: (1.30am and 4am)
* Women’s basketball (Alanna Smith)
Pool game v France (5am)
* Athletics (Stewart McSweyn)
Men’s 1500m semi final (5.15am)
*Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Quarter finals: (6pm and 8.30pm)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Quarter finals: (1.30am and 4am)
* Men’s basketball (Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay)
Quarter finals: (7pm and 10.30pm)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Semi final: (10pm)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7
* Cycling (Georgia Baker)
- Women’s team pursuit qualifying (1.30am)
- Women’s team pursuit first round (9.52pm)
* Men’s basketball (Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay)
Quarter finals: (2am and 5.30am)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Semi final: (3am)
* Athletics (Stewart McSweyn)
Men’s 5000m round one (7.10pm)
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Semi final: (10pm)
* Women’s basketball (Alanna Smith)
Quarter finals (7pm and 10.30pm)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8
* Women’s basketball (Alanna Smith)
Quarter finals (2am and 5.30am)
* Cycling (Georgia Baker)
Women’s team pursuit final (2.57am)
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Semi final: (3am)
* Athletics (Jacob Despard)
Men’s 4x100m relay round one (7.35pm)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Bronze Medal game (10pm)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
* Men’s basketball (Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay)
Semi finals: (1.30am and 5am)
* Men’s hockey (Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz)
Gold Medal game (3am)
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Bronze medal match (10pm)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
* Women’s basketball (Alanna Smith)
Semi finals (1.30am and 5am)
* Cycling (Georgia Baker)
Women’s madison final (2.09am)
* Athletics (Jacob Despard)
Men’s 4x100m relay final (3.45am)
* Women’s hockey (travelling reserve Maddison Brooks)
Gold medal match (4am)
* Men’s basketball (Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay)
Bronze medal game (7pm)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
* Athletics (Stewart McSweyn)
Men’s 5000m final (4am)
* Men’s basketball (Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay)
Gold medal game: (5.30am)
* Women’s basketball (Alanna Smith)
Medal games (bronze 7.30pm; gold 11.30pm)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
* Alexandra Viney (Paralympics rowing)
PR3 Mixed Coxed Four - PR3Mix4 + Rep (7.30pm)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
* Alexandra Viney (Paralympics rowing)
- PR3 Mixed Coxed Four - PR3Mix4 + Final B (6.50pm)
- PR3 Mixed Coxed Four - PR3Mix4 + Final A (8.30pm)
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