Athletics – double the Diamond League fun for Australia

Jess Hull had a fabulous outing at the Stockholm Diamond League, running the women's 5000m in 14:44.24 to place fifth - but most importantly it is her first Olympic qualifying standard time of the Paris 2024 cycle.

Her Australian 5000m record of 14:43.80 was within striking distance, and her run on Sunday was her second-fastest 5000m run she's ever completed. It also met the qualifying standard for the 2023 world championships, to be held in Budapest in August.

Also in Sweden, Brandon Starc finished equal fourth at his first competition after shoulder surgery - clearing 2.12m. Matt Denny, Georgia Griffith, Linden Hall, Brooke Buschkuehl, Krtis Marschall and Michelle Jenneke were also in action - read more here.

This past week at the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland, Nicola Olyslagers produced a career-best performance in the high jump.

She cleared an Australian record equalling 2.02m, the same height Nicola conquered in the final at Tokyo 2020 for the silver medal, ahead of the world championships coming up next month.

Mackenzie Little powered her way to victory in the women's javelin, throwing a Personal Best 65.70m. It was 1.43m better than her previous personal best and 2.36m better than the rest of the field.

Catriona Bisset, Stewart McSweyn, Ky Robinson, Nina Kennedy and more were in action - read here.

Judo – four medals in four weeks for Judo women

Our Australian judokas have scored two medals at the recent Asian Judo Open in Taipei over the weekend.
Maria Swan was successful in her bronze medal match in the U78kg category, her first competition since tearing her ACL 12 months ago at the same event.

While Maeve Coughlan (Aoife Coughlan’s sister and Olympian) came away with a gold medal in the U63kg category. It earns both Maria and Maeve valuable ranking points on their quest for Paris 2024 Olympic qualification.

This success follows a silver medal for Katharina Haecker (U63kg) and a bronze medal for Aoife (U70kg) at the 2023 Qazaqstan Barysy Grand Slam earlier this month, tallying four medals in four weeks from four different Aussie Judo women – an Australian record.

Badminton – Gold and silver for Aussie pairs

Gronya Somerville and Kenneth Choo have added another mixed doubles title to their tally, beating all comers at the Mongolia International Challenge on Sunday.

In the final they beat Thailand's Tanakorn Meechai and Fungfa Korpthammakit in straight sets 22-20 21-17 for gold.

Over in the women's doubles, Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu became silver medallists.

Hong Kong's Lui Lok Lok & Ng Wing Yung won the final 21-16, 21-18.

Basketball – bronzed Opals on home soil

The Opals have come away with a bronze medal in the recent FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, defeating New Zealand 81-59 on their home court at Sydney Olympic Park.

Although exhausted from playing six tough games over the seven-day tournament the Opals pulled through,

“I think that just shows what the Opals are about and were able to fight until the end and get that medal!” Darcee Garbin commented.

The team had five players scoring in the double digits, with Alice Kunek being awarded a place in the tournament’s All-Star Five after averaging 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game.

Their position in the series means the Opals have advanced through to the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in February 2024.

Football - home World Cup squad finalised

The Matildas' 23-player squad has been named to represent Australia at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The team will be led by forward Sam Kerr as captain in her fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup, and defender Steph Catley as vice-captain in her third appearance at the prestigious quadrennial tournament.

Lydia Williams and Clare Polkinghorne, revered figures in Australian football, have earned the distinction of being the only male or female Australian players to participate in five FIFA World Cup finals tournaments.

Matildas’ head coach Tony Gustavsson said the team are looking forward to sharing the FIFA Women’s World Cup experience with the nation.

“Today is the end of a two-and-a-half-year process and the wonderful start of a thrilling new journey for the team,” Gustavsson said.

“Selecting this World Cup squad has been the toughest challenge so far, but the whole coaching and support staff are all completely overjoyed for the 23 players who will represent the nation during this tournament.

“They have the heart, desire and the passion for the crest, and I can’t wait to see the next part of their story.”

Gustavsson has selected 15 players who were part of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign and with seven players in line to make their FIFA Women’s World Cup debuts.

The Matildas' 2023 FIFA World Cup Squad

Lydia Williams*
Courtney Nevin*
Aivi Luik*
Clare Polkinghorne*
Cortnee Vine
Clare Wheeler
Steph Catley*
Alex Chidiac
Caitlin Foord*
Emily van Egmond*
Mary Fowler*
Teagan Micah*
Tameka Yallop*
Alanna Kennedy*
Clare Hunt
Hayley Raso*
Kyah Simon*
Mackenzie Arnold*
Katrina Gorry
Sam Kerr*
Ellie Carpenter*
Charlotte Grant*
Kyra Cooney-Cross*

* - denotes Olympian

The Matildas will play the opening match of the FIFA Women's World Cup against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday 20 July at Stadium Australia, Sydney.

Australia’s second game will see them in Brisbane to face Nigeria on 27 July before the final Group B fixture against reigning Olympic gold medallists, Canada, at Melbourne's Rectangular Stadium on 31 July.

Weekend Wrap: Nicola Olyslagers takes world lead in high jump, historically high-achieving judokas and more