By Bodhi Stringer
Australia is typically known for punching above their weight when it comes to the final medal tally at the Olympics, having won a total of 46 medals and finishing sixth overall in the standings. However, majority of Australia’s medals come early in the Olympics during the swimming portion of the games, with 20 of the 46 medals all coming from the pool at the Tokyo games. So, whilst it is always expected that the Australian medal tally will be dominated by the swimming team it is worth looking at where some of our other medal chances are at the 2024 games.
Kookaburras (Men’s Hockey)
The Australian men’s hockey team affectionately known as the Kookaburras enter the Paris games as serious medal chances. Having medalled in 7 of the past 8 Olympics the Kookaburras are again well in the picture for one of the three medals in Paris. The Kookaburras finished fourth at last years World Cup after losing to eventual winners Germany in the semi-finals. Whilst they did finish outside the medals at the world cup they are still well placed to make a run at the gold in Paris as they are currently ranked as the third best competing nation according to the International Hockey Federations (FIH) world rankings. The Kookaburras haven’t reached the top step of the podium at the Olympics since Athens but will look to do so in Paris. The Kookaburras kick their Olympic campaign off against Argentina on Saturday July 27.
Hockeyroos (Women’s Hockey)
The Hockeyroos enter the 2024 Paris games having not medalled at an Olympics since winning gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Whilst it has been since Olympic cycles since the Hockeyroos took the top step at the Olympics they are entering the Paris games as serious medal chances. The International Hockey Federation have the Hockeyroos ranked as the fourth best competing nation leading into the Olympics with the Pro League to take place prior to the Olympics. With 8 games to play before their Olympic campaign starts the Hockeyroos will be looking to put their best foot forward and hit the Olympics ready to win and bring home a medal. Their Olympic campaign starts against South Africa on July 28.
Australian women’s sevens (Women’s Rugby sevens)
The Australian women’s rugby sevens will be looking to win their second Olympic gold medal at the 2024 games. Having won the gold in Rio the women’s rugby sevens had a disappointing Olympic campaign in Tokyo finishing 5th overall. However, post the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo the team have gone on to win both the Commonwealth games gold medal in 2022 and again the gold at the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7s. Australia enter the Olympics as a favourite to take out the gold in Paris. The ruby 7s team led by captain Charlotte Caslick have started emphatically in their 2023-24 world series where they currently sit on an equal high 106 points with New Zealand. The team will play two final legs of their world series prior to the Olympics but if their recent for is anything to go by Australia could be adding an extra gold medal to their tally at the 2024 games.
Annabelle McIntyre & Jessica Morrison (Women’s rowing pairs)
Annabell McIntyre & Jessica Morrison hold Australia’s gold medal hopes in the rowing at this years games. Whilst they struggled to make the B final in Tokyo, they have taken that disappointment and turned themselves into powerhouses of women’s rowing pairs. The paring fell painfully short of world championship glory in 2023 after finishing second. Despite finishing second in Serbia at the world championships they did enter the finals having been undefeated for the European season in 2023. This form showcases that they are a serious medal shout at the Paris games and could go one better than their world championship performance and bring home a gold medal at the Paris games.
Jess Fox (Women’s Canoe slalom C1, K1)
Jess Fox has become a household name when it comes around to the Olympics having won gold in the women’s C1 Canoe slalom at the Tokyo Olympics. Jess also went on to win bronze in the K1 at the Tokyo games and enters the Paris event as a huge chance to win both gold medals in the respective categories. Jess Fox reinforced her standing as the greatest female canoe slalom athlete in history at last years world championships as she achieved her record-extending 14th gold medal at the world championships. Whilst Fox did win the C1 event at the Tokyo games the K1 gold still illudes her having taken out a silver medal at the London 2012 games and bronze at both the Rio 2016 games and the Tokyo games could Paris be the year the Fox adds to the medal telly but this year with a gold. If Fox wins a medal of any variation in both the K1 and C1 at the games her Olympic resume will include 6 Olympic medals along with her 14 world championships, this tally is sure to have her go down as the greatest of all time in women’s canoe slalom.
Whilst there are many other medal hopefuls and chances at the Olympics for Australia the above mentioned are all key hopefuls in 2024. All have their own stories, and all are looking to cap off a lifetime of hard work with Olympic gold. The Paris games are sure to have medals in Swimming and Athletics for Australia, but the lesser-known chances are what we love about the Olympics. Australia enters as always as an underdog who are out to punch above their weight and hopefully bring back 50 medals for only the second time in the competing history at the 2024 games. If Australia achieve the mark of 46 medals, they will progress past 600 total medals at the Olympics dating back all the way to the 1896 games in Athens.
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