#Rio2016 | Slattery Earns Olympic Debut
Western Australian Kathryn Slattery will make her Olympic debut after earning selection in the Hockeyroos’ 16-strong squad for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
The 22 year-old from South Stirling, was announced in Perth this morning amongst a youthful Australian women’s hockey squad that boasts 12 debutants, with just four returning Olympians.
Slattery first represented Australia in 2014 and has become a mainstay of the national team ever since, having competed for the Hockeyroos at both World League and Champions Trophy level.
She was also a member of the 2013 Australian women’s team that claimed a gold medal at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, in which she scored a goal in a 2-1 win over China.
The Hockeyroos will enter competition in Brazil with a world ranking of number three, and head coach Adam Commens believes his in form squad can be a legitimate medal threat in Rio.
“In the end we have selected a fantastic group of players that are all in fantastic form,” Commens said.
“To win Olympic medals it’s important to have in form players that are also on the improve. We have this throughout our Olympic selection of 16 and I’m excited by our prospects in Rio.”
Australia’s women will compete in Pool B against Argentina (#2), Great Britain (6), USA (7), Japan (10) and India (13).
Competition starts on August 6 and will feature a new format. The top four from each of the two pools will progress to the all-or-nothing quarter-final as each team pushes towards the gold medal match on August 18.
Slattery’s selection will see her join Kookaburras defender Fergus Kavanagh in representing Western Australia in hockey, whilst WA now has 22 officially selected athletes on the 2016 Australian Olympic Team, with further additions expected over the next two weeks.
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