Ten Victorian country athletes to watch at Paris
These athletes are not only representing their country, but also their rural and regional communities across Victoria. Meet 10 of the best and see when they’re competing.
Over the next two weeks, 460 athletes across 33 sports will be representing Australia competing at the Paris Olympic Games, and a strong contingent will also be representing their rural and regional backgrounds.
Here are 10 athletes from rural Victoria to look out for, and when they’ll be competing.
Grace Brown (Camperdown) – Cycling Road
Brown only began her cycling career eight years ago at the age of 23, and after narrowly missing the podium at Tokyo in the women’s individual time trial, finishing fourth, has her sights on a medal this time around.
The Camperdown native is a three-time national champion in the time trial and won the 2023 Women’s Tour Down Under, and has announced 2024 will be her last year in professional cycling.
Women’s Individual Time Trial – July 27, 22:30 AEST
Women’s Road Race – August 4, 22:00 AEST
Lucy Stephan (Nhill) – Rowing
Stephan is competing at her third Olympics, and after winning gold at Tokyo in the women’s four, is this year hoping to build on a 30-year legacy to claim Australia’s first medal in the women’s eight.
The Nhill native has been claimed by Ballarat, Nagambie, and even Penrith as one of their own, spending considerable time in each, and support will be coming from all areas of the country on race day.
Women’s Eight Heats – July 29, 20:00 AEST
Women’s Eight Final A – August 3, 18:50 AEST
Eleanor Patterson (Leongatha) – Women’s High Jump
Eleanor Patterson is another veteran of the Australia team, about to embark on her third Olympics campaign. Growing up and training in Leongatha until the age of 22, Eleanor was inspired by former Australian 1500m runner Kaila McKnight, who grew up in nearby Stony Creek.
Patterson won the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in 2022, jumping 2.02m, and will be hoping to clear two metres again at Paris.
Women’s High Jump Qualification – August 2, 18:15 AEST
Women’s High Jump Final – August 5, 03:50 AEST
James Willett (Corowa/Mulwala) – Shooting
The current world No.2 will be hoping to put two disappointing previous Olympic campaigns behind him when he competes in the Men’s Trap.
Growing up as a on a sheep and cropping farm between Corowa and Mulwala, Willett is in a hot vein of form, winning the 2024 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan in May, and knows his previous experience will hold him in good stead this time around.
Trap Men’s Final – July 30, 23:30 AEST
Penny Smith (Camperdown) – Shooting
As a teenager Smith fell into the sport through her brother, with her mother Kim also involved in the Olympics, as the groom to Australian equestrian champion Andrew Hoy at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
Smith finished just outside of the medals at Tokyo, finishing sixth in both the Women’s Trap and the mixed trap team event, but has some great form going into Paris, shooting 125/125 at the Yarra Valley Grand Prix early this year, following a gold medal in Doha at the ISSF World Cup in 2023.
Trap Women’s Final – July 31, 23:30 AEST
Ben Buckingham (Myrtleford) – Men’s Steeplechase
Australian steeplechaser Ben Buckingham grew up on a cattle farm near Myrtleford, and next week will compete in his second Olympic Games, after coming 22nd in his first run at Tokyo.
Hit with a raft of injuries since, including a femur stress reaction, osteitis pubis and bone stress issues, Buckingham said it’s been a “long rewarding journey” for him, and at the Oceania Championships in June clocked his fastest time for two years.
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Round 1 – August 6, 03:04 AEST
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final – August 8, 05:40 AEST
Kathryn Mitchell (Hamilton) – Women’s Javelin
Ranked consistently among Australia’s best female javelin athletes for the better part of two decades, Paris will be Mitchell’s fourth Olympics.
Finishing sixth at both Rio and Tokyo, 42-year-old Mitchell, who began her Little Athletics career at Casterton, could be up against it after suffering a soleus rupture in April, but the determination she has shown throughout her career will no doubt be on show here.
Women’s Javelin Throw Qualification – August 7, 18:25 AEST
Women’s Javelin Throw Final – August 11, 03:40 AEST
Matthew Dellavedova (Maryborough) and Dyson Daniels (Bendigo) – Men’s Basketball
Two players at opposite ends of their careers, but both expected to be valuable contributors to the Boomers campaign at Paris, who face a tough group stage in their bid to win a medal, after their bronze medal campaign in Tokyo.
Dellavedova, 33, has recently been plying his trade with Melbourne United in the NBL after a decade in the NBA, and will bring his trademark hustle and experience to the team, while the athleticism and defence of 21-year-old Daniels will be on show, a young star who has just been traded to the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.
Australia v Spain – July 27, 19:00 AEST
Australia v Canada – July 30, 21:30 AEST
Australia v Greece – August 2, 21:30 AEST
FINALS TBA
Keefer Wilson (Nyora) – Skateboarding
Debutant Wilson is one of the youngest members of the Australian cohort at 17-year-old, and after his dad built a 8.5m tall and 90m long skate ramp in the backyard of their South Gippsland property, Wilson has gone from strength to strength.
Keefer was the youngest competitor in X-games history at 11 years old, and will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Keegan Palmer who has also 17 when he won gold in Tokyo in the first ever running of the event.
Men’s Park Prelims - August 7, 20:30 AEST
Men’s Park Final - August 8, 01:30 AEST
Other regional Australian athletes to look out for:
Nina Kennedy (Busselton, WA) – Women’s Pole Vault
The joint world champion in 2023 at Budapest with Tokyo gold medallist Katie Moon from the US, Kennedy enjoys a fierce but friendly rivalry with her competitors. Her season best height of 4.88m is second in the world behind 2024 world indoor champion Brit Molly Caudery.
Paris is expected to be an epic contest between these three.
Women’s Pole Vault Final – August 8, 03:00 AEST
Matthew Denny (Allora, QLD) – Men’s Discus Throw
The 28-year-old is about to embark on his third Olympics campaign, and perhaps has never been better placed to medal.
One of eight siblings, Denny set a new PB of 67.02m at Tokyo to place fourth, missing out on bronze by 5cm, in the best ever result for an Australian male at the Olympic Games. In Adelaide this year, he set another PB at 69.35, the fifth best distance across the world in 2024.
Men’s Discus Throw Final – August 8, 04:25 AEST
Stewart McSweyn (King Island, TAS) – Athletics
McSweyn grew up on a beef and sheep farm on King Island in the middle of the Bass Strait, and has come a long way to the big time. He was the first Australian man to break 3 minutes 30 seconds in the 1500m, and finished seventh in the event at Tokyo.
McSweyn will be competing in both the 1500m and 5000m at Paris, and will be hoping to put sickness and injury that has plagued him in the past few years behind him.
Men’s 1500m Round 1 – August 2, 19:05 AEST
Men’s 1500m Semi-Final – August 5, 05:10 AEST
Men’s 1500m Final – August 7, 04:50 AEST
Men’s 5000m Round 1 – August 7, 19:10 AEST
Men’s 5000m Final – August 1, 04:00 AEST
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