Large contingent of Griffith athletes bound for Olympics

Griffith University congratulates the 45 student, alumni, swim squad athletes and coaching staff named in the Australian Olympic team for Tokyo.

“We are thrilled to see so many Griffith University connections on their way to the Games,” Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans said.

“Nine percent of the athletes named in the Australian Olympic team are part of the Griffith family, which is truly something to celebrate.”

“Their inclusion in the Australian team represents years of training and we congratulate them on their willingness to keep striving for greatness despite a global pandemic and continued interruptions to their preparations.”

Of the 34 Griffith student athletes selected, 24 are making their Games debut. They’re joined by nine alumni, of whom three are on debut.

Renowned swim coach Michael Bohl, who runs Griffith’s Swim Squad on the Gold Coast, will also join the Australian team, in what will be his fifth Olympic campaign.

Griffith Sports College Manager Naomi McCarthy OAM, a dual Olympian and Gold Medallist in 2000 in Sydney, said Griffith’s contribution to the Games this year represented almost double the number of student athletes competing in Rio in 2016.

“Griffith student athletes and alumni will represent Australia at the Olympics in the sports of swimming, shooting, sailing, boxing, canoeing, cycling, athletics track and field, artistic swimming, badminton, football, triathlon, rugby 7s, diving, hockey, water polo, weightlifting, and rowing,” McCarthy said.

“We take great pride in knowing that Griffith Sports College has helped these elite athletes to continue their training and competition commitments alongside study opportunities.

“While we do have a large number of Griffith athletes making their debut, we also have a wealth of experience in the team, with the likes of Education student Dani Stevens, heading to her fourth Games in Discus.

“Meanwhile Biomedical Science alumnus Bronwen Knox is the first Australian woman to make four Games in Water Polo.

“The determination of these athletes to push themselves to the limits of human endeavour holds them in great stead for their careers after representative sport.”

“They’re studying everything from Business to Education, Exercise Science, Nursing, Marketing and Communication but wherever they place their focus I know they’ll perform at a very high level.

“We can’t wait to see them in action in Tokyo!”

Current selected student athletes:

Selected Griffith swim squad athlete / coaching staff:

Selected Alumni:

The Olympics get underway on 23 July and run until 8 August.

The Paralympics start on 24 August and finish on 5 September. The entire Paralympic team has yet to be finalised but will also include a number of Griffith student athletes, alumni and coaching staff.