UQ athletes poised for Paris Olympics and Paralympics
University of Queensland students and community members are packing their bags after being selected to represent Australia at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
UQ students Elizabeth Dekkers and Thomas Neill were named in the 44-member Dolphins Olympic Swim Squad, announced by the Australian Olympic Committee after last weekend’s Australian Swimming Trials.
UQ alum and 3-time gold medallist Brenden Hall will spearhead a 30-strong team to represent Australia in the pool at the Paris Paralympic Games.
Swimmers Lakeisha Patterson OAM and Rachael Watson will each pursue a third consecutive Paralympic gold medal, while world record holder Jack Ireland has qualified for his first Paralympics. Long-time UQ Swimming Club coach David Heyden will be one of 4 Queensland coaches on Australia's Paralympic team in Paris.
Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Maddison Keeney has also gained selection in the Australian diving team, while Abby Andrews and Gabi Palm will compete in their second Olympics after being named in the Aussie Stingers women’s water polo team.
Still on the water, University of Queensland Boat Club rowers Caitlin Cronin and Ria Thompson have been selected in the Australian Women’s Quadruple Sculls squad. The pair will be looking to add another Olympic medal to their collections following their bronze-medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Fellow University of Queensland Boat Club member Lily Triggs has been selected in Women's 4s, while UQ student Tobiah Goffsassen will compete at his first Paralympics after being selected in Australia's PR3 Mixed Coxed Four squad.
Claire Colwill, Rebecca Greiner and Tatum Stewart. Images: Will Russell/Getty Images
Claire Colwill, Rebecca Greiner and Tatum Stewart. Images: Will Russell/Getty Images
On the land, UQ students Claire Colwill and Tatum Stewart, along with UQ alum Rebecca Greiner, have been selected in the Hockeyroos squad.
While UQ student Isabella Nasser makes her Olympic debut alongside UQ Women's Rugby Club teammates Kaitlin Shave and Sidney Taylor, after being named in the Women's Rugby Sevens team, with UQ alum Emilee Barton named as an assistant coach. Red Heavies clubmate Nick Malouf will captain the Australian Men's Rugby Sevens squad.
UQ athletes will also feature in Australia's track and field squad, with Liam Adcock competing in the long jump, Lachlan Kennedy lining up in the men's 4x100 metres relay, Cara Feain-Ryan racing in the 3000 metres steeple chase, and Tori West battling it out in the heptathlon.
UQ graduate and Paralympic champion Brenden Hall. Image: Quinn Rooney/Getty Image
UQ graduate and Paralympic champion Brenden Hall. Image: Quinn Rooney/Getty Image
Professor Bruce Abernethy, Executive Director of UQ’s Office of 2032 Games Engagement said he was delighted to see such a strong UQ contingent in the Paris teams.
“Sport is not just an extracurricular activity at UQ – it’s an integral part of the student experience and excellence in promoting and understanding sport forms a key part of the University’s distinctive identity and standing nationally and internationally,” Professor Abernethy said.
“This is true regardless of whether the focus is upon research and innovation in sport, sport in the curriculum or sport as a vehicle for engagement with our community locally, nationally and globally.
“It’s fantastic to see so many UQ students and alumni selected to participate in the Paris 2024 Games and I know the whole UQ community will be cheering for them in their Olympic and Paralympic journeys.”
UQ 2024 Olympic and Paralympic athletes
This article will continue to be updated to include members of the UQ community selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Elizabeth Dekkers – Swimming (200m butterfly)
Dekkers is a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) student and will make her Olympic debut in Paris. She won a gold medal in the 200m butterfly at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. She was awarded UQ Sportswoman of the Year in 2023.
Thomas Neill – Swimming (200m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 4x200m freestyle relay)
Neill is a Bachelor of Advanced Business (Honours) student and a bronze-medal winner from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for the 4x200m freestyle relay. He was awarded the UQ Sportsman of the Year Award (2022 and 2024).
Brenden Hall – Swimming (S9 400, 800 and 1500m freestyle)
Hall is a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences (’17) graduate and a seasoned athlete, with 4 Paralympic campaigns under his belt. He is a 3-time gold medallist and will equal an Australian Para-swimming record with his fifth Games appearance in Paris. Hall was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2014 for his service to sport. He was awarded UQ Sportsman of the Year in 2015.
Lakeisha Patterson – Swimming (S9 400m freestyle)
Patterson is studying a Bachelor of Communication and will be competing in her third Paralympics. She won a gold medal in the 2016 Rio Paralympics and backed that up with a gold medal in the women’s 400m freestyle S9 at the Tokyo Paralympics. Patterson was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 and UQ Sportswoman of the Year in 2019.
Rachael Watson – Swimming (S4 50m freestyle and S3 100m freestyle)
Watson is studying a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and is representing Australia at her third Paralympics. She won gold in the 50m freestyle S4 at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and again at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Watson was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 and the UQ Sportswoman of the Year in 2022.
Jack Ireland – Swimming (S14 200m freestyle)
Ireland is a UQ Swim Club member and has qualified for his first Paralympics. He won a bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Ireland also won medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.
Maddison Keeney – Diving (3m springboard and 3m springboard synchronised)
Keeney is a Bachelor of Science ('17) graduate and a former UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient. She made her Olympic debut in Rio, winning a bronze medal. She won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and silver medals at the 2012, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Abby Andrews – Water Polo (pictured)
Andrews is studying a Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours). She has represented Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2024 and 2023 World Aquatics Championships and the 2022 World Championships.
Gabriella Palm – Water Polo
Palm graduated with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science in 2022 and made her Olympic debut at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games. The goalkeeper has represented Australia 50 times since making her debut for the Stingers in 2017. Palm plays professionally for Club Esportiu Mediterrani in Barcelona. She is a former UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient.
Caitlin Cronin – Rowing
Cronin graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where she won a bronze medal. The former UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient has been a regular member in the Australian rowing team since 2017 and has represented her country at numerous World Rowing Cups and World Championships.
Ria Thompson – Rowing
Thompson graduated in 2019 with Bachelor of Science and is currently studying a Master of Philosophy. She collected a bronze medal alongside Cronin in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls in Tokyo. The former UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient made her international debut in 2018 and has represented Australia at multiple World Championships.
Lily Triggs – Rowing
Triggs rows for the University of Queensland Boat Club and is set to make her Olympic debut at Paris 2024. She competed in the women's 8 at the 2023 Rowing World Championships. After finishing first in the repechage, Australia went on to claim the bronze medal.
Tobiah Goffsassen – Rowing
Goffsassen is a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences (Honours) student and rows for the King's College Boat Club. The UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient will make his Paralympic debut in Paris.
Claire Colwill – Hockey
Colwill is a UQ Hockey Club representative and is making her Olympic debut in Paris. After first representing the Hockeyroos against New Zealand in 2022, the UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient helped Australia win a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup the same year.
Tatum Stewart – Hockey
Stewart is a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Physical Education (Honours) student and is also making her Olympic debut in Paris. The UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient made her first appearance for Australia in March 2023 and has already earned 24 caps for the Hockeyroos, scoring 5 goals.
Rebecca Greiner – Hockey
Greiner graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science. Alongside Colwill, she won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup in 2022. Greiner has made 66 appearances for the Hockeyroos since her debut against Argentina in 2018.
Isabella Nasser - Rugby Sevens
Nasser is a Bachelor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences student and a 2024 UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient. The 2023 UQ Blue winner is making her Olympic debut in Paris.
Kaitlin Shave – Rugby Sevens
Shave plays for the UQ Rugby Club and will make her Olympics debut in Paris. Shave is a former track sprinter, taking out the U17 Australian Championship 100m in 2017.
Sidney Taylor – Rugby Sevens
Taylor is also making her Olympics debut. The UQ Rugby Club star grew up playing OzTag and made her Australian Sevens debut in Vancouver.
Nick Malouf – Rugby Sevens
Malouf will captain the Australian Men's Rugby Sevens squad in Paris. The UQ Rugby Club star debuted for Australia in 2012 in Dubai, emerging as a consistent figure for a decade. He has played at 2 Olympics along with helping Australia to their first World Series title.
Liam Adcock – Athletics (long jump)
The Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Economics ('19) graduate will make his Olympic debut in Paris following a strong performance at 2023 World Athletics Championships, and gold medals at the 2023 Nationals and 2024 Oceania Championships.
Lachlan Kennedy – Athletics (men's 4x100m relay)
After playing rugby for a decade, Kennedy switched to athletics and within 2 years would represent Australia at the World Under-20 Championships in 2022. The Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Commerce student will make his Olympics debut in Paris.
Cara Feain-Ryan – Athletics (3000m steeple chase)
Feain-Ryan has been making good progress since missing the Tokyo Olympic team with some breakthrough performances last year. The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) student was unbeatable in Australia 2023, winning the national title and key Brisbane Track Classic. Her 2024 campaign included third at nationals and second at the Oceania Championships, gaining sufficient points to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Tori West – Athletics (heptathlon)
After coming close to Olympic selection for Tokyo, West has been at a new level in 2024, achieving 4 of her 5 best heptathlon scores and setting individual personal bests in all but one of the heptathlon events. The UQ Athletics Club member also recorded the highest Australian score for 16 years as she moved up to number 5 on Australia's all-time heptathlon list.
UQ 2024 Olympic and Paralympic athletes
This article will continue to be updated to include members of the UQ community selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Elizabeth Dekkers – Swimming (200m butterfly)
Dekkers is a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) student and will make her Olympic debut in Paris. She won a gold medal in the 200m butterfly at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. She was awarded UQ Sportswoman of the Year in 2023.
Thomas Neill – Swimming (200m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 4x200m freestyle relay)
Neill is a Bachelor of Advanced Business (Honours) student and a bronze-medal winner from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for the 4x200m freestyle relay. He was awarded the UQ Sportsman of the Year Award (2022 and 2024).
Brenden Hall – Swimming (S9 400, 800 and 1500m freestyle)
Hall is a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences (’17) graduate and a seasoned athlete, with 4 Paralympic campaigns under his belt. He is a 3-time gold medallist and will equal an Australian Para-swimming record with his fifth Games appearance in Paris. Hall was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2014 for his service to sport. He was awarded UQ Sportsman of the Year in 2015.
Lakeisha Patterson – Swimming (S9 400m freestyle)
Patterson is studying a Bachelor of Communication and will be competing in her third Paralympics. She won a gold medal in the 2016 Rio Paralympics and backed that up with a gold medal in the women’s 400m freestyle S9 at the Tokyo Paralympics. Patterson was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 and UQ Sportswoman of the Year in 2019.
Rachael Watson – Swimming (S4 50m freestyle and S3 100m freestyle)
Watson is studying a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) and is representing Australia at her third Paralympics. She won gold in the 50m freestyle S4 at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and again at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Watson was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 and the UQ Sportswoman of the Year in 2022.
Jack Ireland – Swimming (S14 200m freestyle)
Ireland is a UQ Swim Club member and has qualified for his first Paralympics. He won a bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Ireland also won medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.
Maddison Keeney – Diving (3m springboard and 3m springboard synchronised)
Keeney is a Bachelor of Science ('17) graduate and a former UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient. She made her Olympic debut in Rio, winning a bronze medal. She won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and silver medals at the 2012, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Abby Andrews – Water Polo (pictured)
Andrews is studying a Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours). She has represented Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2024 and 2023 World Aquatics Championships and the 2022 World Championships.
Gabriella Palm – Water Polo
Palm graduated with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science in 2022 and made her Olympic debut at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games. The goalkeeper has represented Australia 50 times since making her debut for the Stingers in 2017. Palm plays professionally for Club Esportiu Mediterrani in Barcelona. She is a former UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient.
Caitlin Cronin – Rowing
Cronin graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where she won a bronze medal. The former UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient has been a regular member in the Australian rowing team since 2017 and has represented her country at numerous World Rowing Cups and World Championships.
Ria Thompson – Rowing
Thompson graduated in 2019 with Bachelor of Science and is currently studying a Master of Philosophy. She collected a bronze medal alongside Cronin in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls in Tokyo. The former UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient made her international debut in 2018 and has represented Australia at multiple World Championships.
Lily Triggs – Rowing
Triggs rows for the University of Queensland Boat Club and is set to make her Olympic debut at Paris 2024. She competed in the women's 8 at the 2023 Rowing World Championships. After finishing first in the repechage, Australia went on to claim the bronze medal.
Tobiah Goffsassen – Rowing
Goffsassen is a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences (Honours) student and rows for the King's College Boat Club. The UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient will make his Paralympic debut in Paris.
Claire Colwill – Hockey
Colwill is a UQ Hockey Club representative and is making her Olympic debut in Paris. After first representing the Hockeyroos against New Zealand in 2022, the UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient helped Australia win a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup the same year.
Tatum Stewart – Hockey
Stewart is a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Physical Education (Honours) student and is also making her Olympic debut in Paris. The UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient made her first appearance for Australia in March 2023 and has already earned 24 caps for the Hockeyroos, scoring 5 goals.
Rebecca Greiner – Hockey
Greiner graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science. Alongside Colwill, she won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal at the FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup in 2022. Greiner has made 66 appearances for the Hockeyroos since her debut against Argentina in 2018.
Isabella Nasser - Rugby Sevens
Nasser is a Bachelor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences student and a 2024 UQ Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient. The 2023 UQ Blue winner is making her Olympic debut in Paris.
Kaitlin Shave – Rugby Sevens
Shave plays for the UQ Rugby Club and will make her Olympics debut in Paris. Shave is a former track sprinter, taking out the U17 Australian Championship 100m in 2017.
Sidney Taylor – Rugby Sevens
Taylor is also making her Olympics debut. The UQ Rugby Club star grew up playing OzTag and made her Australian Sevens debut in Vancouver.
Nick Malouf – Rugby Sevens
Malouf will captain the Australian Men's Rugby Sevens squad in Paris. The UQ Rugby Club star debuted for Australia in 2012 in Dubai, emerging as a consistent figure for a decade. He has played at 2 Olympics along with helping Australia to their first World Series title.
Liam Adcock – Athletics (long jump)
The Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Economics ('19) graduate will make his Olympic debut in Paris following a strong performance at 2023 World Athletics Championships, and gold medals at the 2023 Nationals and 2024 Oceania Championships.
Lachlan Kennedy – Athletics (men's 4x100m relay)
After playing rugby for a decade, Kennedy switched to athletics and within 2 years would represent Australia at the World Under-20 Championships in 2022. The Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Commerce student will make his Olympics debut in Paris.
Cara Feain-Ryan – Athletics (3000m steeple chase)
Feain-Ryan has been making good progress since missing the Tokyo Olympic team with some breakthrough performances last year. The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) student was unbeatable in Australia 2023, winning the national title and key Brisbane Track Classic. Her 2024 campaign included third at nationals and second at the Oceania Championships, gaining sufficient points to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Tori West – Athletics (heptathlon)
After coming close to Olympic selection for Tokyo, West has been at a new level in 2024, achieving 4 of her 5 best heptathlon scores and setting individual personal bests in all but one of the heptathlon events. The UQ Athletics Club member also recorded the highest Australian score for 16 years as she moved up to number 5 on Australia's all-time heptathlon list.
Breaking barriers and building legacies
UQ is set to help Queensland welcome the world in 2032 with the launching the Office of 2032 Games Engagement (OGE). Influential sporting, government and industry leaders attended the event at the Queensland Art Gallery, where a special panel discussed the road to 2032, UQ’s commitment to supporting the delivery of a successful Games and the lasting legacy that large sporting events leave behind.
