UNSW Athletes shine in Green and Gold at Paris 2024 Olympic Games

UNSW students, alumni, and club members were front and centre for Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, competing across a range of sports. We take a look back at how our representatives fared in Paris.

Bronte Halligan played a pivotal role in the Australian Women’s Water Polo team, known as the Stingers, who narrowly missed out on the gold medal. Facing Spain in the final, the match ended 11-9 in favor of the Spaniards, leaving Australia with a silver medal. Halligan’s contribution was particularly noteworthy, as she was named in the tournament’s All-Star team. Over the course of the competition, she scored eight goals, provided 13 assists, and led the entire tournament in steals with 13.

On the Marseille Marina, Jim Colley and Shaun Connor competed in the men’s Skiff sailing event. Despite a strong effort, the pair finished 15th overall, navigating through challenging competition. Their performance added another chapter to Australia’s storied history in Olympic sailing, though they faced formidable challenges from seasoned crews.

Grace Young, a key player for the Hockeyroos, was part of a squad that experienced a tough end to their Olympic campaign. In the quarterfinals, the team faced China, who went on to win the silver medal. The match was tightly contested, with Australia narrowly losing 3-2. 

The Australian men’s hockey team, the Kookaburras, with Tim Brand in their ranks, experienced a challenging Olympic campaign. Their journey ended in the quarterfinals, where they were defeated 2-0 by the Netherlands. The loss was a difficult conclusion for a team with a rich history of success in international hockey, hopefully able to go a bit further in Los Angeles 2028.

In rowing, Caitlin Cronin competed in the Women’s Quad Sculls, where the Australian crew finished 8th overall. The result marked a departure from Cronin’s previous success in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she secured a bronze medal. 

Henry Hutchison represented Australia in the Rugby 7’s, reaching the semi-finals, where they faced Fiji and lost 31-7, narrowly missing out on a spot in the final. In the subsequent bronze medal match, Australia was defeated by South Africa with a score of 26-19. Hutchison, playing in his third Olympic Games, finished the tournament with three tries, 126 carry meters, and 20 tackles, demonstrating his impact for this squad.

In men’s water polo, the Australian Sharks, featuring UNSW affiliates Andrew Yanitsas (assistant coach), Angus Lambie, Charlie Negus, John Hedges, Matt Byrnes, Nathan Power, and Tim Hamill (head coach), also saw their Olympic run come to an end in the quarterfinals. The team was defeated by the United States in a tense penalty shootout, which ended 11-10. Despite the disappointment of the quarterfinal exit, the Sharks had a highlight in their campaign by defeating Serbia, the two-time defending Olympic champions, 9-3 in the group stages. This victory marked the first time Australia had beaten Serbia in Olympic competition.

The performances of these UNSW students, alumni, and club members at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games illustrate the high level of talent and dedication present within the university’s sporting community. Competing on the world’s largest stage, they showcased their abilities against the best in the world, representing Australia with distinction. Each athlete’s journey, whether ending in a medal, a near miss, or a hard-fought battle in the early rounds, adds to the legacy of UNSW’s involvement in the Olympics and hopefully provides inspiration to future athletes at this university.