From the Matildas to the Gangurrus — everything you need to know about the Aussie teams bidding for gold in Paris

by Admin
July 22, 2024

Ten teams will represent Australia across six sports at the Paris Olympic Games, and many of them will take with them significant hopes of a spot on the podium.

From the football field to the water polo pools, Aussie teams are hoping to make their mark on the Games again this year.

The big names are on show

Having taken Australia on a magical ride through last year’s Women’s World Cup, the Matildas are ready to tackle their next major challenge at these Olympic Games.

The Olympics is a massive deal for women’s football, as unlike the men’s edition there is no age limit imposed on squads and nations invariably select the best players possible.

The Matildas are depleted but still a strong medal chance in Paris.(Matildas.)

Injury might have depleted the Matildas for this campaign, but their medal hopes remain strong.

The Tillies kick off their Games against Germany in Marseille in the wee hours of Friday July 26 (AEST), before they head to Nice to play Zambia on Monday July 29 (AEST).

ABC Sport will be live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics from July 27

The group stage wraps up with a massive clash against the US on Thursday August 1 (AEST) back in Marseille. From there, the knockout stages await as the path to the final at Parc de Princes becomes clearer.

The Boomers, our men’s basketball team, are hoping to top their bronze medal performance in Tokyo but will have to navigate the dreaded ‘group of death’ first.

The Boomers have ambitions of bettering their bronze from Tokyo.(Getty Images: Kelly Defina)

The Aussies will face Spain, Canada and Greece in their pool games before they even have to worry about facing the might of the US team.

The Opals, the number-three-ranked team in the world, will face Nigeria, Canada and France on the women’s side of the draw and like their male compatriots will have the podium firmly in their sights.

Medals on the menu

Both our men’s and women’s hockey teams are ranked inside the top five in the world, and are realistic chances to medal in Paris.

Eddie Ockenden will lead the Kookaburras at the Olympic Games for the fifth time, as they take on Argentina, Belgium, India, Ireland and New Zealand in group stage matches.

The Hockeyroos will be hoping to put some selection drama behind them as they bid for Olympic gold, but they too face a tough group.

The Hockeyroos are ready for a run at their first medal since Sydney.(Getty Images: David Rogers)

Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, USA and South Africa all await in Paris as the Hockeyroos look to claim Australia’s first Olympic medal in women’s hockey since they claimed gold in Sydney.

Australia will be well represented in the rugby sevens competition too, with medals on the radar again for both the men and the women.

Pool games for the men begin in the days before the Opening Ceremony, with medal matches scheduled on the first full night of competition, giving our men the chance to be the first Australians to claim a medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

The women won’t have to wait much longer, as their pool games get underway on day two of competition with medal matches taking place in the early hours of Monday July 29 (AEST).

The other Aussies to watch

Australia has again qualified in both the men’s and women’s divisions for the water polo.

The men’s team — the Sharks — have drawn Serbia, France, Hungary, Japan and Spain in group B.

The women’s team — the Stingers — will face Hungary, Canada, China and the Netherlands in group A. Progression to the knockout stages will tough for both sides in this most gruelling of water sports.

The Sharks, Australia’s men’s water polo team, faces a tough group in Paris.(AAP Image: Dean Lewins)

And for the first time ever, Australia will have representation in the 3×3 basketball with our Gangurrus qualifying for the women’s competition in Paris.

This fast-paced basketball adaptation was first introduced to the Olympics in Tokyo, and sees two teams of three face off in a half-court with a shortened shot clock and slightly altered ball.

The Gangurrus won their way to the Olympics through a qualifying tournament in Japan and will be hoping to make a splash on debut in Paris.