The 18-strong Matildas team to compete at Paris 2024 has been announced by the Australian Olympic Committee at Sydney Olympic Park.
Captained by Steph Catley, the team features eight athletes who will become the first Australian footballers to compete at three Olympic Games.
Catley, vice-captain Emily Van Egmond, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop will all become three-time Olympians in Paris.
Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Teagan Micah, and Hayley Raso all return for their second Games, while Clare Hunt, Kaitlyn Torpey, Cortnee Vine and Clare Wheeler have been selected to make their Olympic debut.
The Matildas enter Paris off the back of Australia’s best-ever finish in Olympic football with fourth in Tokyo.
Drawn in a pool with former gold medallists USA and Germany along with Zambia, the team will open their campaign the day before the Opening ceremony, 25 July, against Germany in Marseille.
The 18 athletes selected today is the largest selection announcement so far for the Australian Olympic Team for Paris, with the team now numbering 134 of an expected 460 team size.
Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares said:
“I am thrilled to announce the Matildas team for Paris 2024,” Ms Meares said. “This team is already full of trailblazers and record breakers, with eight players set to become the first three-time football Olympians for Australia.
“Thank you to the team at Football Australia, and everyone who has helped these 18 players grow from their first time having a go at football to becoming Paris Olympians.
“Congratulations to each of the players selected today, as well as to your families, friends, coaches and supporters who are all celebrating your Olympic achievement.”
The Matildas Head Coach Tony Gustavsson welcomed today’s announcement.
“This has been an incredibly challenging squad to select with so many quality players competing fiercely for limited spots,” Mr Gustavsson said. “It has been a methodical process over the past couple of years to reach to this point, and each of the players selected bring unique and beneficial qualities to our team that will be vital for our Paris 2024 campaign.”