Matt, from Western Australia, will enter Paris as the reigning Olympic and World Champion, after sailing to victory in January at the ILCA-7 World Championships in Adelaide, while Grae showed his world class ability finishing fourth in February’s iQFOiL World Championships in Lanzarote.

Matt’s selection is an important milestone on a stirring comeback, with the Tokyo Olympic champion’s 2022 completely derailed by long-covid. Since regaining his fitness, in the last 18 months the 28-year-old has won the Paris Olympic Test Event, the 2023 and 2024 World Championships.

In Paris, Matt will look to continue Australia's rich ILCA 7 Olympic heritage (formerly Laser), with Australians winning Olympic gold in Tokyo (Wearn), Rio (Tom Burton) and London (Tom Slingsby).

Grae will contest the new iQFOiL class, which makes its Olympic debut in Paris, replacing the RS:X as the windsurfing event on the Olympic programme. The iQFOiL is a much faster form of windsurfing, with athletes reaching top speeds of more than 60km/h.

Australian Chef de Mission for the 2024 Australian Olympic Team Anna Meares celebrated the duo's selection.

"Congratulations to Matt and Grae on their selection to the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024," Ms Meares said.

"Matt and Grae are world class athletes who will represent Australia with pride and contribute to our rich Olympic sailing legacy.

"Matt has shown incredible resilience, it's inspiring to see him climb back to the top of the fleet after illness. Grae has already demonstrated he is an incredible talent, finishing fourth at the World Championships, and I look forward to Aussie fans getting behind him as the iQFOiL class makes its debut in Paris.

"It takes a village to raise an Olympian, and I extend my congratulations to the athletes' coaches, families, Australian Sailing, Australian and state institutes of sport and all who have helped them on their journey to the Olympic Games."

Matt said the challenges of the past few years makes today’s announcement even more special.

"It is an honour to already be part of Australia’s sailing legacy, but to have the chance to add to that again is very special," Matt said. “There are only a handful of sailors that have gone to multiple Games and been successful, so I am really hoping I can add to that legacy again in Paris.

"2022 was tough. In a year where I was looking forward to taking the momentum of the Games through to this campaign it was all taken away by a series of illnesses which ended my season.

"I really had to fight hard for a long time to get back to where I was pre illness. It took well in to the 2023 season for me to get back to the health and fitness level I needed to be at the top of the fleet again but with some amazing help I managed just that.

"It taught me a lot about myself and it definitely has had some positive impacts on my training and racing programs. To get two World Championships and to be selected for my second Games after all that I went through feels incredible. The emotion is definitely higher and it means more to be here now, I am so grateful to have this opportunity again.

Sydney local Grae's selection comes off the back of a year that included finishing fourth at the Olympic Test event, and top 10 finishes at the 2023 and 2024 World Championships.

"It was a childhood dream to go to the Olympic Games, to see it finally coming together is amazing." Grae said.

"Finishing fourth in our last Worlds in the lead up to the Olympics shows we are heading in the right direction. It’s all experience that I need to do my best when the time comes.

"The iQFOiL is fast in all conditions and exciting to watch. It’s a pure adrenaline rush and I think everyone is going to love it."

Australian Sailing President Alistair Murray AM congratulated the athletes on their selection.

"Australian Sailing is incredibly proud of what Matt and Grae have achieved, and we look forward to watching them represent Australia on the Olympic racetrack," said Mr Murray.

"Both athletes have sacrificed so much to get themselves to the peak of their respective classes. We commend them, their coaches Rafa and Arthur, their families and all those who have supported them to get them where they are today."

Grae and Matt join Breiana Whitehead, who was selected in late 2023, on the Australian Olympic Team for Paris, with further sailing selections expected in the coming months.

The sailing competition will be held from Sunday 28 July to Thursday 8 August at the Marseille Marina.