Leading the charge for the rest of the team in Tokyo are a host of familiar faces, seasoned champions ready to test themselves on the global stage once again.
Paris 2024 silver medallist high jumper Nicola Olyslagers, fresh from shattering the national record and setting a world-leading mark of 2.04m at the Zurich Diamond League, is among the favourites for gold.
“This season has been a great build up for Tokyo,” Olyslagers said in a press release from Australian Athletics. “My life changed forever the last time I competed in Tokyo for the Olympics [when claiming silver], so even sharing that stadium this time with my family and friends will be a moment I’ll never forget.”
Having bested reigning Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the Diamond League final just last week, Olyslagers hopes to finally break through to the top spot for her first major title.
Alongside Olyslagers, the team boasts five other Paris Olympic medallists, including reigning Olympic and world champion pole vaulter Nina Kennedy, discus thrower Matthew Denny, race walker Rhydian Cowley, middle-distance runner Jessica Hull, and former world high jump champion Eleanor Patterson.
But the team’s strength isn’t limited to its established stars.
The inclusion of young talents like Gout, along with eight other medallists from last year’s World Athletics Under-20 Championships, highlights the depth of rising talent within the nation. Claudia Hollingsworth, who recently broke the Australian 800m record, and teenage mile world record holder Cameron Myers are among this exciting new generation.
Andrew Faichney, Australian Athletics General Manager High Performance, believes this team reflects a broader shift in the sport’s landscape. “We’ve witnessed a real shift, not just in performance, but in national relevance,” Faichney explained.
“This team reflects that change. They’re world-class athletes with the results to match, but just as importantly, they’re carrying the momentum of a sport that has so much belief behind it.”
With all five national relay teams qualified for the first time ever, Team Australia is poised to make a significant impact at these World championships.