Overview
Acknowledgement Of Country
The Australian Olympic Committee acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of all the lands on which we are located on. We pay our respects to ancestors and elders, past and present.
We celebrate and honour all of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Olympians past and present.
The Australian Olympic Committee is committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society and sport.
Walking together
Paul Fleming
Aboriginal Artist: Paul Fleming (Olympian – Beijing 2008, Boxing), a First Nation Australian man from Wakka Wakka Wanyurr Majay, Yuggera country.
Indigenous Australian Olympic boxer Paul Fleming (Olympian – Beijing 2008) discovered a new way of expressing his passion in 2018 by taking up art and becoming an artist through Aboriginal art design. Through his art, Paul is encouraging the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to stay close to their roots and to take pride in their identity.
‘Walking Together’ was created to share the Olympian’s story – “the centre piece represents a meeting place because the Olympics brings together people of all colours, religions and backgrounds from all over the world, who are all competing for the same goal. Everyone essentially becomes ‘one’, we’re all athletes and it doesn’t matter where you come from.”
Ngalmun Danalaig
Our Way of Life
David Bosun
Torres Strait Artist: David Bosun, a proud Wug man and Mualgal artist from Moa Island in the Torres Strait, is one of the founders of the printmaking tradition in Zenadth Kes (the Torres Strait).
His piece for the AOC captures the main elements of traditional and modern ways of life in Zendath Kes – “The winds in this artwork flow diagonally through the dhari, our traditional head dress, in the middle. The islands sit within the horizon line and the currents move from top to bottom, bottom to top. The winds and tides are very important to our way of life in Zenadth Kes. In the old days we relied on them to move from island to island, they tell us when we can travel.”
“The impact is on balancing family visits and seasonal harvest times, so it’s more than just the means of local travel, fishing and so on, the winds map what happens over a year,” he continued. “All the lines converge in the centre, through the dhari, which is a key ceremonial piece for us, worn during ritual celebrations, specifically in dance ceremonies. “They are a powerful and important cultural item.”
Overview
IAN CHESTERMAN AM
It’s been an extraordinary year for the Olympic movement in Australia. It began with our most successful results at a Winter Games in Beijing, the departure of John Coates after 32 years as AOC President, the global consequences of the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine and as always, Olympians achieving extraordinary things in and out of competition.
President
Australian Olympic Committee (AOC)
And of course, Brisbane 2032 now has an Organising Committee and things are well and truly up and running.
It is my great privilege to lead the Australian Olympic Committee following John Coates retirement. Since taking on the role, it has been an absolute pleasure moving around the country speaking with athletes and sports about great opportunity that awaits us, into 2032 and beyond.
It was a proud moment for all of us witnessing the performance of our Team in Beijing – coming away with one gold, two silver and a bronze medal and so many outstanding results just off the podium. The Team represented Australia magnificently, once again in some trying circumstances given the COVID situation at the start of 2022.
As it was in Tokyo, great Team spirit, great pride and great resilience.
We now look to Paris 2024 with great anticipation with the Australian Team to be led by one of our great Olympians in Anna Meares OAM. To have an Olympic champion and four-times Olympian in this critical role of Chef de Mission is a great outcome. She will be outstanding.
It was also so impressive to see Olympians appointed to critical roles within the International Olympic Committee with Jess Fox OAM appointed to the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Sally Fitzgibbons to the Olympic Programme Commission, James Tomkins OAM to the Commercial Partnerships Commission and Evelyn Halls to the Athletes’ Entourage Commission.
The AOC is firmly committed to taking practical action as part of our commitment to Indigenous reconciliation. We have begun our second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as part of this journey.
Many thanks to Patrick Johnson, Chair of the AOC Indigenous Advisory Committee, for his role in providing the advice and guidance to help us on this journey. The Committee Members have been energetic and really focused on achieving something substantial.
I had the great pleasure of visiting the Torres Strait and witness the AOC’s inaugural Indigenous basketball coaching scholarship holders run drills and talk to the kids up there. These are the practical outcomes resulting from that commitment to reconciliation through sport.
I would also like to congratulate Louise Dobson and David Culbert who have been elected as inaugural co-chairs of the Australian Olympians Association (AOA). This is such an important vehicle to keep the fabric of Olympism strong through networking and the sharing of ideas.
Sadly, we lost our oldest Olympian in Frank Prihoda in 2022, at the grand age of 101. Frank represented Australia at the Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 Winter Olympic Games where he competed in alpine skiing. I had the great pleasure of catching up with Frank for his birthday and he was immensely proud of the progress winter sport has made in Australia over the years.
Frank’s baton has been passed on to sailing great, Gordon Ingate OAM, who is still sailing competitively in his nineties.
As we look forward, the promise of Brisbane 2032 beckons. There are five Olympians on the Organising Committee – Bronte Barrett, Rob Scott, Natalie Cook OAM, Patrick Johnson OAM and Tracy Stockwell OAM.
These Games must always have athletes foremost at the heart of all decision making and this outstanding group is well placed to ensure the athlete voice is prominent.
I have always said these will be a great Games if the Australian Team succeeds in its ambitions. The time to invest in our athletes for Brisbane 2032 is now and we are working hard with government to ensure this investment is delivered.
July 26, 2023 marks one year to go until Paris 2024. How quickly that time will fly. I very much look forward to those magical times with vital qualifying spots being secured and the first Team selection announcements later this year.
Right now, the world needs the Olympic movement as never before – our Olympic values have never shone more brightly as a beacon of hope in the most uncertain of times, given the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sport has such an important role to play in bringing the world together.
Right now, the world needs the Olympic movement as never before – our Olympic values have never shone more brightly as a beacon of hope in the most uncertain of times, given the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sport has such an important role to play in bringing the world together.
Overview
MATT CARROLL AM
The year of 2022 was a very proud year for the AOC and the Olympic Movement in Australia.
CEO
Australian Olympic Committee (AOC)
We started the year with the Australian Team at Beijing, 43 athletes – 22 women and 21 men, our third largest Winter Olympic Team ever. The Team secured Australia’s greatest ever Olympic winter Games medal haul with four medals – one gold, two silver and one bronze.
There was also Australia’s youngest athlete in Beijing, Valentino Guseli the 16-year-old snowboard halfpipe sensation who finished sixth and our first ever Curling pair, Dean Hewitt and Tahli Gill.
In the community, our schools program Olympic Unleashed reached the milestones of Olympians having told their stories in over 2,000 schools across Australia reaching 280,000 students. Australian Olympic Change-Maker Program had over 1,000 nominees from across Australia in years 10, 11 & 12 powering the change in their community. For the National Summit 24 students were selected by a panel of Olympians. Great young leaders!
In support of our member sports we are progressing our “Have a Go” initiative to grow participation in Olympic sports. We worked with individual sports to amplify marketing and engagement at their major events to boost ticket sales, media and local engagement to drive participation. Early results have been very good.
This year saw the completion of our pilot program of the Indigenous Coaching Scholarship with Basketball Australia and Indigenous Basketball Australia, presented by Toyota. Four Indigenous coaches completed their scholarship that included elite coaching guidance, delivering clinics in remote communities and remote module learning. The AOC’s Indigenous strategy involves delivering practical outcomes and this was an excellent outcome. Expect more scholarships in other sports in the near future.
We moved into the next phase of our Reconciliation Action Plan and continued the integration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture into the Team uniforms and planning.
After over 12 months of analysis and consultation, we launched our inaugural Climate Action Plan (CAP) which lays out the AOC’s commitment to climate action and sustainability and our leadership role of Olympic sports in Australia. We have committed to a 30% reduction in emissions by 2024, 50% by 2030 and net zero by 2040. This follows the AOC becoming a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Plan in 2020. Sport contributes to climate change, so it needs to adapt to achieve climate neutrality.
With the support of the IOC, five Afghan families with ties to the Olympic movement were successfully relocated to Australia following a 12-month long project. In all, 31 family members arrived in Australia including Olympic athletes and sport administrators who particularly championed women’s sport through recruitment programs, coaching and officiating. It was a proud moment for the Olympic movement in Australia that we were able to bring them here, safely and settling well.
Our network of Parliamentary Friendship Groups (PFG) continues to expand with addition of the Tasmanian Parliament, with the South Australian Group to launch in 2023. The PFGs provide a great opportunity to ensure the Olympic movements messages and advocacy reaches all levels of government.
With the support of global partner, Allianz, we have been able to continue the important support of Olympians through our Wellbeing Series and Athlete Engagement, along with career development Olympian Opportunities program.
We worked closely with the Athletes’ Commission under the leadership of chair Cate Campbell, and deputy chair Ken Wallace, to ensure athletes guidance and requirements are built into AOC team planning and helps shape AOC policy.
In our advocacy and leadership, we were very engaged with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in the development of their Sport 2032+ Strategy. It’s a valuable strategy and the collaborative nature of the approach taken by Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins and the AIS team was most welcome.
Commercially, the AOC is in a very strong position as we enter the final years of the Paris Quad. With the resignation of some partners and welcoming new, we are able to plan with certainty for the Paris Games and continue our work in the community and in support of athletes through the Medal Incentive Funding.
At the end of the year, we farewelled founding OWIA chair Geoff Henke. Geoff always had a vision for the advancement of winter sport in the Olympic movement and the OWIA’s very existence is testament to his capacity for bringing people with him and overcoming hurdles along the way. He identified the opportunity for Australia’s transformation from a smaller player at Winter Games to a significant presence.
This year saw the first Board meeting of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee under the presidency of Andrew Liveris. The AOC is very engaged with Board representation and collaboration with other Games’ partners, in the Queensland Government led legacy planning. Next year it will be very important for sport to be heard loud and clear on the opportunities that Brisbane 2032 can bring.
I acknowledge the significant appointment of Cindy Hook to the role of Brisbane 2032 Chief Executive Officer in mid-December. Ms Hook brings excellent credentials to the role and we look forward to working with her in the time ahead to ensure a great Brisbane 2032 is delivered for our athletes.
The year began with great anticipation of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games where the Team performed superbly. We celebrated John Coates presidency of 32 years and welcomed new president, Ian Chesterman.
The AOC is in good shape and well positioned for the challenges and opportunities of the last two years of the Paris Quad and then the seven years to Brisbane 2032.
Overview
AOC
Athletes' Commission
Report
Less than eight months after the conclusion of the delayed Summer Olympics in 2021, 2022 started off with a bang – the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Despite extreme covid restrictions, testing protocols and quarantines, Australia took a 43-strong cohort of athletes to the Beijing Olympics – and what a show they put on for us. We watched in awe as our Olympians twisted, flipped, slid, skated and pirouetted into the history books, returning with a record-breaking four medals. A special congratulations must go out to our newest Olympic Champion, Jakara Anthony, who took home gold in spectacular style in the moguls. Congratulations as well to our other medallists; Scotty James for nabbing silver in the snow-board half pipe; Jackie Narracott for her breath-taking silver in the skeleton and Tess Coady for claiming a ‘sick-as’ bronze in the snowboard slope-style.
It was a joy watching all our athletes compete despite the tough conditions, their courage, determination and camaraderie was on full display as they did Australia proud.
The year of 2022 has been busy and fulfilling for the Athletes’ Commission. In February we said goodbye to our Chair, Scott Kneller and long-time commission member, Lydia Lassila while welcoming on board the newly elected members at the Beijing Olympics, Winter Olympians Brodie Summers and Greta Small. We also welcomed silver medallist in Beach Volleyball, Taliqua Clancy as our indigenous representative.
Thank you Scott and Lydia for your contribution, passion, insights and dedication over the years which has been sincerely appreciated; you will be missed.
The Commission has continued working with the AOC on their Sustainability Action Plan. The AOC has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040. Climate action and sustainability is something many of our Commission members are very passionate about and we applaud the AOC for their commitment to reducing their omissions and will continue to work with Warwick Waters and Dr Sheila Nguyen moving forward.
Less than eight months after the conclusion of the delayed Summer Olympics in 2021, 2022 started off with a bang – the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Despite extreme covid restrictions, testing protocols and quarantines, Australia took a 43-strong cohort of athletes to the Beijing Olympics – and what a show they put on for us. We watched in awe as our Olympians twisted, flipped, slid, skated and pirouetted into the history books, returning with a record-breaking four medals. A special congratulations must go out to our newest Olympic Champion, Jakara Anthony, who took home gold in spectacular style in the moguls. Congratulations as well to our other medallists; Scotty James for nabbing silver in the snow-board half pipe; Jackie Narracott for her breath-taking silver in the skeleton and Tess Coady for claiming a ‘sick-as’ bronze in the snowboard slope-style.
It was a joy watching all our athletes compete despite the tough conditions, their courage, determination and camaraderie was on full display as they did Australia proud.
The year of 2022 has been busy and fulfilling for the Athletes’ Commission. In February we said goodbye to our Chair, Scott Kneller and long-time commission member, Lydia Lassila while welcoming on board the newly elected members at the Beijing Olympics, Winter Olympians Brodie Summers and Greta Small. We also welcomed silver medallist in Beach Volleyball, Taliqua Clancy as our indigenous representative.
Thank you Scott and Lydia for your contribution, passion, insights and dedication over the years which has been sincerely appreciated; you will be missed.
The Commission has continued working with the AOC on their Sustainability Action Plan. The AOC has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040. Climate action and sustainability is something many of our Commission members are very passionate about and we applaud the AOC for their commitment to reducing their omissions and will continue to work with Warwick Waters and Dr Sheila Nguyen moving forward.
Members
Chair
SwimmingBeijing 2008 · London 2012 · Rio 2016 · Tokyo 2020
Deputy Chair
Canoe Kayak (Sprint)Beijing 2008 · London 2012 · Rio 2016
Commission Member
Canoe Kayak (Slalom)London 2012 · Rio 2016 · Tokyo 2020
Commission Member
HockeyRio 2016 · Tokyo 2020
Commission Member
HockeyRio 2016 · Tokyo 2020
Commission Member
RowingRio 2016 · Tokyo 2020
Commission Member
Water PoloLondon 2012 · Rio 2016 . Tokyo 2020
Commission Member
BoxingTokyo 2020
Commission Member
Beach VolleyballRio 2016 · Tokyo 2020
Commission Member
Freestyle SkiingSochi 2014 · PyeongChang 2018 · Beijing 2022
Commission Member
Alpine SkiingSochi 2014 · PyeongChang 2018 · Beijing 2022
Overview
Indigenous
Advisory Committee
Patrick Johnson OLY
Chair, AOC Indigenous Advisory Committee
In 2022 the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has achieved several milestones as the organisation continues its reconciliation journey and builds on its Indigenous strategy. An important first this year was the completion of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in June, marking some significant footprints.
The scope and reach of the AOC’s Olympics Unleashed program continues to grow, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in remote communities across Queensland, and Western Australia experiencing inspirational talks from visiting the Olympians. The Australian Olympic Change-Maker program also saw the first ever student from the Torres Strait Islands attend the National Summit in Canberra as one of twenty-four Change-Makers selected.
2022 also marked the first cohort of graduates from the Australian Olympic Indigenous Coach Scholarship Project in the sport of Basketball, in partnership with Toyota. I congratulate Cassie Dover (Queensland), Tyson Demos (NSW), Jason Ah Sam (Northern Territory) and Tahlia Kelly (Western Australia) for graduating and look forward to the next iteration of the program.
During Reconciliation Week, the Queensland Parliamentary Friendship Group acknowledged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, history and cultures with a Welcome to Country delivered by Tribal Experiences at Queensland Parliament House. Aboriginal Artist and Olympian, Brad Hore OLY also engaged guests in an Aboriginal art activity, alongside an interactive AIATSIS Indigenous Map where ministers could identify the Language Group of the locations where they live and work.
The Beijing Winter Olympic Games also marked a first, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art integrated into athlete competition uniforms and equipment. Noteworthy inclusions were Paul Fleming’s Aboriginal artwork on athlete body suits and David Bosun’s Torres Strait Islander art featuring on the bobsled.
NAIDOC Week marked another first with AOC President Ian Chesterman, CEO Matt Carroll and several Olympians visiting Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. In partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), our organisations celebrated NAIDOC Week with a community day that included a BBQ and basketball clinics delivered by Indigenous Basketball Australia, as well as an opportunity for locals to meet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Olympians and RAAF personal. A scenic flight was organised by the RAAF providing an opportunity for local Traditional Owners to experience seeing their land from a different perspective.
During NAIDOC Week the AOC also held its second ‘Walk with Us’ forum in celebration of Australia’s 60 known Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Olympians and acknowledging Australia’s Indigenous Olympic history and achievements. The ‘Walk with Us’ forum is an important platform to allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Olympians and Change-Makers to have a voice. ‘From the Heart’ provided Dean Parkin as the special guest to deliver the keynote address to explain the significance of the Uluru Statement and constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament.
I would like to extend a personal thank you to the deputy chair Danny Morseu and the members of the Indigenous Advisory Committee for their time, genuine contribution, deep passion, and commitment in 2022. I also extend this thank you to members of the AOC RAP Working Group for their work completed in the first Reflect RAP and planning completed for the 2nd Innovate RAP due to be released in 2023.
If we can see it, then we can believe in it and dream its reality.
Overview
2022 Sport Australia
Hall Of Fame Inductees
Sport Australia Hall of Fame recognises and promotes the outstanding sporting achievements of Australia’s greatest athletes and encourages everyone to reach their full potential.
Membership of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is limited to the top echelon of Australian athletes who have all achieved excellence at the highest level of their sport and those who have shown outstanding achievements in roles supportive to the sport’s participants.
Softball
Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008
Tanya Harding’s contribution to Australian softball spanned 15 years, more than 50 tournaments and a total of 283 matches, including four consecutive Olympic Games appearances.
Harding became one of the nation’s and world’s best pitchers in a stellar career. Renowned for her determination and mental toughness, she played a pivotal role in helping make the Australian team a potent force on the world stage.
With softball introduced to the Olympics for the 1996 Atlanta Games, it provided the perfect platform for the Australian team to take on and beat some of the world’s best.
Harding would become an integral part of the Australian softball team which not only competed at four successive Olympics, but won medals at each of those Games – one silver and three bronze in total. Along with teammates Natalie Ward and Melanie Roche, she created a slice of history for Australian women at the Olympics with those four consecutive medals.
She was also the first Australian to twice pitch Olympic wins against the United States.
Knowing she had given her all for her country in the quest for Olympic glory, Harding officially retired from international competition after the 2008 Beijing Games.
Overview
Contributors
Editors
Daniel Kowalski
Meg Sissian
Meg Sissian
Contributors
Daniel Kowalski
Brittany Elmslie
Warwick Waters
Jeff Dickinson-Fox
Brittany Elmslie
Warwick Waters
Jeff Dickinson-Fox
Cover & Feature Photography
Harry Hayes