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               Paris Olympics 2024                                                                                                                                                                                        May 2024
                                                                                                                                   THE JOURNAL OF SPORT, LEISURE & RISK WITH AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE


               Aussie Prospects                                                                                                       medalist in Tokyo and world indoor              breaststroke, adding to the intrigue of his



                                                                                                                                      champion, holds the Australian record
                                                                                                                                                                                      potential medal haul.
               for Paris Olympics                                                                                                     at 2.03 metres, while Patterson, the            On the women’s side, all eyes are on
                                                                                                                                      2022 world champion, has a best of
                                                                                                                                      2.02 metres. Logan Martin, the Gold
                                                                                                                                                                                      McIntosh, who will enter Paris just weeks
                                                                                                                                      Coast BMX freestyler, made history with
                                                                                                                                                                                      before her 18th birthday. With world
               2024                               Tim Mottram,                                                                        Olympic gold in Tokyo and aims for a            records in the 400 IM and multiple world
                                                                                                                                      repeat in Paris, driven by unwavering
                                                                                                                                                                                      championships under her belt, McIntosh
                                                  independent sports journalist
                                                                                                                                      determination and rigorous training.
                                                                                                                                                                                      is primed for success and is a promising
                                                                                                                                                                                      new athlete. Despite missing the 200
                                                                                                                                      Australia’s women’s pair rowing team,           IM at the 2023 Worlds, her programme
               There is something comforting about the Olympics. If your                                                              composed of Annabelle McIntyre and              aligns for a strong showing in the short
               country is competing in a sport, you can justify hours of watching                                                     Jessica Morrison, emerges as a top              medley next year. With the possibility of
                                                                                                                                      contender for Olympic gold. Despite
                                                                                                                                                                                      competing in five individual events and
               horse-dancing, synchronised swimming or squash. Patriotism is a                                                        their initial setback at the Tokyo Games,       three relays, McIntosh could vie for an
               great way to excuse zoning out for hours, supporting an amateur                                                        they’ve evolved into an intimidating            impressive eight medals, solidifying her
               sport that you will only ever watch every four years. Additionally                                                     force, narrowly missing out on world            status as a rising star of the Games. While
               the Olympics is an outstanding opportunity to connect with                                                             championship victory in Serbia. With            other contenders like Titmus, Ledecky,
                                                                                                                                      the additional preparation of the duo,
                                                                                                                                                                                      and McKeown are formidable, McIntosh’s
               members of your family with whom you have no common ground.                                                            McIntryre and Morrison are sure to              versatility and prowess position her as
                                                                                                                                      be a force to be reckoned with at the           an exceptional contender for Olympic
                                                                                                                                      Olympics.                                       glory, intimidating competitors with
               That said, the Paris Olympics will also           Athletics Team is poised to rival the
               guarantee the big-ticket, stellar moments.        world’s best. Notable world champions                                At the Paris Olympics, the intense              considerably more experience.
               The pool and the track are the real deal          such as Nina Kennedy, James Turner, and                              rivalry between the United States and
               illuminating the grandiose nature of the          Maria Strong showcased their prowess,                                Australia in the pool will captivate
               Olympics, and there the competition is            culminating in a golden finish to a stellar                          audiences, especially after Australia’s         At the Paris Olympics,
               fierce. As a taster for the event, Touchline      year. Their journey began at the 2023                                impressive showing at the 2023 World
               looks at Australia’s prospects for medals.        Chemist Warehouse Australian Summer of                               Championships, taking the spotlight             the intense rivalry
                                                                 Athletics, which attracted record crowds                                                                             between the United
               As the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic          and television viewers, setting the stage for                        off of the international super power. As
                                                                                                                                      we anticipate this year’s showdown,
               Games draw near, Australia’s track and            their remarkable success.                                            it’s too early to predict a clear winner,       States and Australia in
               field athletes are making waves on the                                                                                 with crucial data yet to be gleaned             the pool will captivate
               global stage, marking a breakthrough year         Tokyo Olympian Kennedy etched her name                               from mid-season meets and upcoming
               highlighted by remarkable achievements            in history by sharing an iconic gold with                            Olympic Trials. However, individual stars       audiences, especially
               at the World Championships and a vibrant          USA’s Katie Moon in the pole vault, while                            are already emerging, with Frenchman            after Australia’s
               domestic season. Australia’s current track        Paralympic champion James Turner secured
               record of successes throughout this year          the sprint double in the 100m and 400m                               Leon Marchand and Canadian Summer               impressive showing
               provides Australian spectators with insight       T36 categories. Meanwhile, Maria Strong                              McIntosh poised to shine.                       at the 2023 World
               into the growing potential of Australia’s         displayed her dominance in the 100m T72,
               sportsmanship.                                    leaving her competitors trailing behind to                           Marchand’s dominance in the individual          Championships,
                                                                 claim gold. These stellar performances are                           medley events over the past two years,          taking the spotlight
               With a record-breaking performance                a testament to the growing prowess of                                coupled with his 200 metre butterfly
               at the World Athletics Championships              Australian athletes on the global stage.                             title, positions him as a formidable force      off of the international
               in Budapest, where they clinched an                                                                                    at his home Olympics. With expectations         super power.
               impressive six medals, and an additional          Australia has strong medal hopes in the                              of at least two gold medals and three
               14 medals at the World Para Athletics             women’s high jump with Nicola Olyslagers                             overall, the decision remains whether he’ll
               Championships in Paris, the Australian            and Eleanor Patterson. Olyslagers, a silver                          compete in the 200m butterfly or 200m



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