51 of WA’s best athletes to represent Australia at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Western Australia will have its second highest representation on the Australian Olympic Team, with 51 athletes competing at the upcoming Tokyo Games.
- Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games begin on 23 July 2021.
- 51 WA athletes will represent Australia in Tokyo.
- WA athletes to compete in 19 sports.
- State Government providing direct athlete financial support for the first time.
45 Olympians are current Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) scholarship holders or graduates, with the support provided by WAIS helping them achieve international sporting success.
WA athletes will compete in 19 sports in Tokyo from archery to water polo, triathlon to hockey and athletics to swimming.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games' opening ceremony will be held in less than two weeks — with the State's top athletes now in the final stages of preparations.
The first competition for all Olympic sports will be on Wednesday 21 July, when Australia takes on Japan in softball. Western Australia's Leah Parry and Leigh Godfrey are part of a medal chasing Australian Spirit.
In a sign of the leadership provided by WA athletes, Aran Zalewski will captain the Kookaburras (men's hockey), Sam Kerr, the Matildas (women's soccer) and Aaron Younger, Aussie Sharks (men's water polo).
The State Government is for the first time providing direct financial support to all Western Australian athletes selected to the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams.
Selections for the Australian Paralympic Team are expected to be completed by late July/early August, with the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics running between 24 August and 5 September 2021.
Selected athletes will receive a $4000 payment to assist their preparation on the road to the Games.