Tokyo Olympics: Five Australian athletics champions selected for Tokyo 2021 Olympics

Lachlan McKirdy

Tokyo Olympics: Five Australian athletics champions selected for Tokyo 2021 Olympics image

Five of Australia's best athletics athletes have been selected for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games as current national champions.

Current javelin World Champion Kelsey-Lee Barber and bronze medallist in the walking at the Rio Games in 2016, Dane Bird-Smith, will both be returning to the Olympics in 2021. 

While three debutants, Jessica Hull, Stewart McSweyn and Jemima Montag will all appear at their first Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The five athletes qualified for auto-nomination thanks to their results at tournaments throughout the year. 

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The Australian Olympics Committee (AOC) and Athletics Australia nomination criteria means that as Champions and because they have achieved the Tokyo 2020 qualifying result, they've been handed their boarding pass for the Games. 

Bird-Smith, Hull, McSweyn and Montag are all the current national champions after achieving the results before COVID-19 cancelled a number of qualifying events. 

While Kelsey-Lee Barber qualifies thanks to her World Championship title at the World Athletics Championships in Doha last year. 

Hull (5000m) and McSweyn (5000m & 10,000m) have both qualified for the distance running events. 

While racewalker Montag will compete in the 20KM event in Tokyo.

Barber said that her focus has been qualifying for the Olympics again and is overjoyed at the chance to represent her country again. 

“It’s a wonderful feeling, it makes the Games feel real again,” Barber said.

“It’s been my motivation since Rio to get back to an Olympic stadium – it’s something now I can set up the plan and start working towards it.

“I’m really excited to wear the green and gold at another Olympics and show what I can do.

"After winning the World Championships last year, and having that feeling of celebrating all the hard work you do day in and day out - it’s going to mean so much to me to be in Tokyo next year."


For Hull, the Olympic selection comes only days after she set a 5000m Australian record at the Monaco Diamond League. 

The 23-year-old from NSW says she has 'goosebumps' thinking about competing in Tokyo at the Olympics. 

“It gives me goosebumps to think about Tokyo,” Hull said. 

“While we have to wait another year, it will increase the buildup and heighten the emotion, we’re going to be so happy when we get out there. 

"It’s a childhood dream and now I know I’ll be there in Tokyo.”

Ian Chesterman, the Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team, is hoping that this announcement can help the athletes start to focus fully on the rescheduled Games for next July. 

“Congratulations to these athletes on earning their spot on the Team for the Tokyo Games,” Chesterman said.

“Each of them has shown what outstanding athletes they are, and we are excited to add our five track and field athletes to the Team, as athletics is always such an important part of every Games.

“Having moved beyond the original dates of Tokyo 2020, the full focus shifts to being ready for 23 July next year.

"On being told of their selection all five athletes have been positive that they can focus fully on the challenge ahead, to allow them to be at their best for the Games.

“This is a challenging time for athletes and sports across the world, but this is a day to celebrate for the athletes, their families, coaches, supporters, friends and the athletics community who have helped them reach this milestone."

 

Lachlan McKirdy

Lachlan McKirdy Photo