Two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallists Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy will be joined by Olympic debutants Thomas Hodges and Zachery Schubert, with the Australian Olympic Volleyball Team announced on Friday. 

Artacho del Solar and Clancy will again join forces for the women’s event after their history-making performances in Tokyo, marking both athletes third Olympic appearance. 

This follows the pair winning silver medals at both the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. 

Hodges and Schubert will make their Olympic debut in the men’s event, following a competitive qualification period. 

Both pairs finished the ranking period in the top 17 to earn a Paris 2024 quota, with Thomas and Zachery ranked 16th and Taliqua and Mariafe 12th after an injury interrupted start to the year. 

Australia has a chance to qualify a further men’s team to contest the Beach Volleyball tournament in Paris, through the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup commencing in China next week. 

Olympic silver medallist Mariafe Artacho Del Solar said she was grateful for the opportunity to represent Australia at her third Olympic Games. 

“It’s an honour to play in my third Olympics, and I am proud of all the commitment and determination it has taken to get there,” the 30-year-old said. 

“There’s a feeling of having already done it, but you still go to the Olympics wanting to win a medal. A gold medal is the goal, but I think an Olympic medal is always the dream and it’s probably an advantage for us that we’ve already experienced a finals at an Olympics.” 

“Competing under the Eiffel Tower is going to be incredible. I think it’s going to be a very popular event so the stands are going to be packed and the atmosphere is going to be super vibrant, which always makes it more fun!” 

The beach volleyball competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held from Saturday 27 July to Saturday 10 August at the Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris. 

With thanks to the Australian Olympic Committee and AusVolleyball.