Western Australian Institute of Sport artistic swimmer Alessandra Ho has become the latest WA athlete to be selected to the Australian Olympic Team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
20-year-old Ho replaces Jane Fruzynski, who having been selected in February, has made the decision to retire from elite sport.
Ho joins fellow WA athletes Emily Rogers, Hannah Cross, Amie Thompson, and Hannah Burkhill, as one of five WA representatives on the eight-member artistic swimming team for the Games.
Part of the senior national squad since 2018, Ho was part of the team that earned Australia, the Olympic quota at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
“The Olympics has been a dream I’ve wanted for so long, it still hasn’t sunk in that I’ll be there,” a delighted Ho said.
“In 2011 I saw a poster at our local pool for a come and try day. I had a go and loved it straight away, that it was so creative and different to any other sport I’d tried. In 2012 the Olympic squad performed their routines at our Nationals ahead of London 2012 – I remember watching them in awe and thinking ‘I want to be like them one day.’ And now I’m going to the Olympics!”
Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020 said, “Congratulations to Alessandra on being named to make her Olympic debut.
“This is a moment to be celebrated by Alessandra, her friends, family and supporters and a great result for the hard work she has put in over a decade in the sport.
“I also want to thank Jane for her contribution to Artistic Swimming, as a competitor, teammate and supporter. It’s never an easy decision to retire from elite sport but is has now opened the door for Alessandra to make her Olympic debut and make the most of this opportunity.
“I’m sure Alessandra will do her teammates, family, supporters, coaches and the Australian Olympic Team proud in Tokyo.”
Previously selected fellow WAIS athlete Jane Fruzynski announced her retirement in November. “It was a very big decision, but I’m feeling really good,” Fruzynski said. “I’m so grateful for everyone that’s supported me through the process.”
“Massive congratulations to Alessandra, she absolutely deserves it. She’s put in all the hard yards at trials, worlds, and helped us qualify the team and I’ll be cheering her and the team on in July.”
Photo: PhotoCanberra
