BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Charlotte Kaslick is leading the World Series-winning team to the Paris Olympics seeking her second gold medal, following on from the honour she won when rugby sevens debuted at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Australia's women's and men's teams for the Paris Games were announced on Wednesday, with Kaslick and Sharni Smale on the women's team and Nick Marouf and Henry Hutchison on the men's team, both of whom will be competing in their third Olympic Games.
“We've worked really hard to get to this point where we can challenge for the gold medal,” said the 29-year-old Kaslick, a two-time World Sevens Series Player of the Year. “I've enjoyed every moment leading the boys and we're in good form.”
“Paris is an amazing city that can bring out the best in its players. I can't wait to get there.”
The Australian women's team failed to reach the medal matches in Tokyo after narrowly beating New Zealand to win their first ever Olympic gold medal in rugby sevens.
However, the women's team will go to Paris as World Series champions after defeating Tokyo Olympic gold medallists New Zealand in the semi-finals of the final match of the series last month and then beating France to win the title.
The women's team are in the same group as Ireland, South Africa and Great Britain for the 12-team Olympic tournament, which runs from July 28-30.
The men's team also includes Mark Nawakanitawase, who recently decided to leave rugby union to sign with the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League.
The Australian men's team reached the finals of two World Series Tour events and finished fourth in the league behind Argentina, Ireland and New Zealand.
The men's tournament will kick off with rugby sevens competition on July 24, two days before the official opening ceremony, with Australia drawing in the same group as Argentina, Samoa and Kenya.
“Huge congratulations to Sharni, Charlotte, Nick and Henry on becoming the first athletes to compete in three Olympic Games in their respective sports. They were pioneers in Rio and now they've made history in Paris,” said Australia's Deputy Team Chief Ken Wallace.
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Australian national team:
Women: Charlotte Kaslick (captain), Sharni Smale, Dominique du Toit, Tia Hines, Madison Levy, Faith Nathan, Saria Paki, Bridget Clark, Tegan Levy, Isabella Nasser, Caitlin Scheib, Bienne Terita.
Men: Nick Maloff (captain), Henry Hutchison, Nathan Lawson, Maurice Longbottom, Dietrich Roach, Ben Dowling, Matthew Gonzales, Mark Nawakanitawase, Henry Patterson, Hayden Sargent, Corey Toure, James Turner.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-Paris-Olympics
