Image: Australian Olympic Commitee

There will be 152 Commonwealth Games Australia alumni amongst the 487 team members who will be donning the green and gold for the Australian Olympic Team at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Australian Olympic Committee has announced a team of 487 athletes for the Tokyo Games, consisting of 262 women and 225 men, including 16 First Nations.

This is a record number of women for an overseas Olympics, the highest percentage of women on an Australian Team (53.5%), and a record number of Indigenous athletes will represent the Australian Olympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Commonwealth Games Australia alumni total 152 team members, 80 women team members and 72 men, including four First Nation athletes, Taliqua Clancy (beach volleyball), Brooke Peris (hockey), Maurice Longbottom (rugby 7s) and Brandon Wakeling (weightlifting).

Amongst the 152 team members there are 111 Commonwealth Games medallists.

The 487 team members is the largest Team ever to leave Australia’s shores, eclipsing the 482 athletes who competed in the Athens Games in 2004, and will compete in 33 sports, including fielding athletes in all four new Olympic sports – karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing.

Displaying the important pathway the Commonwealth Games plays, 97 Olympic team members made their international multi-event debut at a Commonwealth Games, dating back to Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games when diving legend Melissa Wu made her debut before going on to win silver at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

We will be cheering for all of the 487 athletes on the @AUSOlympicTeam, including the 152 CGA Alumni team members, who are representing the green and gold at @tokyo2020! 𝐆𝐨 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚! 🇦🇺 💚💛#TokyoTogether #GreaterTogether pic.twitter.com/pS70V907fm

— Commonwealth Games Australia (@CommGamesAUS) July 22, 2021

Across the 487 team members, there will be 307 Olympic debutants, including 151 debutants from Commonwealth Games sports, including 57 Commonwealth Games Australia alumni members.

For many of these debutants, they only need to take inspiration and poise from their Commonwealth Games alumni team members, of the 57 alumni members, 38 of them are Commonwealth Games medallists, displaying their experiences of performing on the international stage.

Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman paid tribute to all the selected athletes who have endured the uncertainties of a one-year postponement, disrupted competitions, qualifying opportunities and access to training venues.

“This has been extremely difficult for every athlete and each has their own individual story to tell. But they have made it. Through their determination and commitment, they are going to Tokyo.

“Even before these Games are declared Open on July 23rd, this Australian Team has made its own history. They are a special Team and Australians can be very proud of them.

“I would also like to pay tribute to those athletes for whom the postponement and global environment prevented them from being a part of this Team. Whether that’s through injury and retirement, lack of safe access to qualification events or through difficult personal circumstances, many have been forced to make that tough call.

“I can promise these athletes that this Team carries their legacy and their contributions in their hearts all the way to Tokyo and into the heat of Olympic competition.”