51 of WA’s best athletes to represent Australia at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Western Australia will have its second highest representation on the Australian Olympic Team, with 51 athletes competing at the upcoming Tokyo Games.

45 Olympians are current Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) scholarship holders or graduates, with the support provided by WAIS helping them achieve international sporting success.

WA athletes will compete in 19 sports in Tokyo from archery to water polo, triathlon to hockey and athletics to swimming.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games’ opening ceremony will be held in less than two weeks – with the State’s top athletes now in the final stages of preparations.

The first competition for all Olympic sports will be on Wednesday July 21, when Australia takes on Japan in softball. Western Australia’s Leah Parry and Leigh Godfrey are part of a medal chasing Australian Spirit.

In a sign of the leadership provided by WA athletes, Aran Zalewski will captain the Kookaburras (men’s hockey), Sam Kerr, the Matildas (women’s soccer) and Aaron Younger, Aussie Sharks (men’s water polo).

“To see Western Australia have its second highest ever representation of athletes at the Tokyo Olympics is an amazing achievement,” said Sport and Recreation Minister Tony Buti.  

“These proud Western Australians will have the opportunity to showcase their talents, in 19 respective disciplines, to the world.

“I congratulate all of the WA athletes and wish them all best of luck for the upcoming Olympic Games.”

WAIS CEO Steve Lawrence said, “We congratulate all 51 Western Australians selected to the Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo and wish them the best of performances for the Games.

“The past year and a half have been like no other and as the world tunes into the Games, I am sure our WA athletes will be a source of pride for their families, WA, Australia and inspirational to all.”

The McGowan Government is for the first time providing direct financial support to all Western Australian athletes selected to the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

Selections for the Australian Paralympic Team are expected to be completed by late July/early August, with the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics running between August 24 and September 5, 2021.

Selected athletes will receive a $4,000 payment to assist their preparation on the road to the Games.