A record 88 athletes will represent Australia at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this month, marking the nation’s biggest team ever assembled for a global championships.
More than just a number, the team reflects a sport in full spotlight, with Olympic and world champions competing alongside fearless teens and debutants, ready to continue the momentum seen within Australian athletics since the team’s last visit to Tokyo in 2021.
Among the team is dual Olympic medallist and 2025 Diamond League champion, high jumper Nicola Olyslagers (NSW) who has been touted as one of Australia’s strongest chances for gold after soaring to a new national record of 2.04m in Zurich last week.
“This season has been a great build up for Tokyo. I do want to do another personal best, but I haven’t put a limit on what that is because I want to trust God for the greater heights,” Olyslagers said.
“My life changed forever the last time I competed in Tokyo for the Olympics [when claiming silver], so even sharing that stadium this time with my family and friends will be a moment I’ll never forget.”
Joining Olyslagers will be five more Paris Olympic medallists in reigning Olympic and world champion Nina Kennedy (WA), Matthew Denny (QLD) who enters Tokyo off the back of the second-largest discus throw in history, race walker Rhydian Cowley (VIC), middle distance sensation Jessica Hull (NSW) who will double in the 800m and 1500m and 2022 world high jump champion Eleanor Patterson (VIC).
Adding to the weight of the Olympic medallists, Kurtis Marschall (WA)enters competition as world number four in the Men’s Pole Vault and a bronze medallist at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, while Liam Adcock (QLD) is ranked fifth in the Men’s Long Jump after a breakthrough year which included bronze at the World Indoor Championships and Diamond League final last week.
Equally as important, the team is rich with future stars, with athletes whose appearance in Tokyo marks an important milestone in a journey towards home Games glory. At just 17-years-old, Gout Gout (QLD) will make his senior national team debut following a record-breaking season that’s already attracted global attention.
The Ipswich Grammar school student will line up alongside eight other medallists from the World Athletics Under-20 Championships last year, Olympic semi-finalist Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC) who just last fortnight shattered the Australian 800m record at the Silesia Diamond League, teenage world record holder Cameron Myers (ACT) who leads an all-star line up of metric milers in Tokyo and World Under 20 long jump champion Delta Amidzovski (NSW).
Further, the strength of Australian sprinting stocks will be well represented, with all five national relay teams qualified for the first time in history.
Australian Athletics General Manager – High Performance, Andrew Faichney noted that the size and caliber of the team was indicative of the sport hitting a new stride, both on the global stage and in the hearts of Australians.
“We’ve witnessed a real shift, not just in performance, but in national relevance,” Faichney said.
“This team reflects that change. They’re world class athletes with the results to match, but just as importantly, they’re carrying the momentum of a sport that has so much belief behind it.
“From podiums to grassroots, we’re seeing the influence of this generation of athletes. They’re showing what’s possible and I’m looking forward to seeing them carry the flag for Australia in just a few weeks’ time.”
The 2025 World Athletics Championships will take place in Tokyo from September 13-21, and will be broadcast on both SBS and the Nine Network in Australia.
Australian team for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan:
Men
100m: Joshua Azzopardi (NSW, Rob Marks), Rohan Browning (NSW, Jack Edwards)
200m: Gout Gout (QLD, Diane Sheppard), Calab Law (QLD, Andrew Iselin), Aidan Murphy (SA, Nik Hagicostas)
400m: Reece Holder (QLD, Christopher Dale), Cooper Sherman (VIC, Neville Down)
800m: Peter Bol (WA, Justin Rinaldi), Peyton Craig (QLD, Craig Mottram), Luke Boyes (NSW, Ben St Lawrence)
1500m: Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford), Jude Thomas (QLD, Collis Birmingham), Adam Spencer (VIC, Mick Byrne)
5000m: Ky Robinson (QLD, Dathan Ritzenhein), Jack Rayner (VIC, Nic Bideau), Seth O’Donnell (VIC, Andrew Russell)
3000m Steeplechase: Ed Trippas (VIC, Craig Mottram)
High Jump: Yual Reath (VIC, Mike Barber), Brandon Starc (NSW, Alex Stewart), Roman Anastasios (VIC, Sandro Bisetto)
Pole Vault: Kurtis Marschall (WA, Paul Burgess)
Long Jump: Liam Adcock (QLD), Christopher Mitrevski (VIC, Alex Stewart)
Triple Jump: Connor Murphy (NSW, Andrew Murphy)
Discus Throw: Matthew Denny (QLD, Dale Stevenson)
Javelin Throw: Cameron McEntyre (NSW, Angus McEntyre)
Marathon: Andrew Buchanan (VIC, Scott Westcott), Tim Vincent (VIC, Jackson Elliott), Liam Boudin (QLD, Collis Birmingham)
20km Race Walk: Rhydian Cowley (VIC, Brent Vallance), Declan Tingay (VIC, Brent Vallance), Tim Fraser (ACT, Jared Tallent)
35km Race Walk: Cowley, Will Thompson (VIC, Brent Vallance), Mitchell Baker (ACT, Jared Tallent)
4x100m Relay: Azzopardi, Jacob Despard (TAS), Christopher Ius (NSW, Andrew Murphy), Law, Browning, Connor Bond (NSW, Mick Zisti)
4x400m Relay: Holder, Sherman, Aidan Murphy, Thomas Reynolds (VIC, Matthew Oakley), Terrell Thorne (QLD, Christopher Dale), Luke van Ratingen (NSW, Ben Liddy) , Augustine Nketia Junior (ACT, Gus Nketia)
Women
100m: Bree Rizzo (QLD, Ryan Hoffman), Torrie Lewis (QLD, Laurent Meuwly), Ella Connolly (NSW, Andrew Murphy)
200m: Lewis, Mia Gross (VIC, John Nicolosi), Kristie Edwards (NSW, Andrew Murphy)
400m: Ellie Beer (QLD, Brett Robinson)
800m: Abbey Caldwell (VIC, Gavin Burren), Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram), Jessica Hull (NSW, Simon Hull)
1500m: Sarah Billings (VIC, Nic Bideau), Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams), Hull
*5000m: Rose Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott), Hall, Georgia Griffith (VIC, Nic Bideau), Lauren Ryan (VIC, Lara Rogers)
10,000m: Ryan, Isobel Batt-Doyle (SA, Nic Bideau)
100m Hurdles: Liz Clay (QLD, Andreas Behm)
400m Hurdles: Sarah Carli (NSW, Abbie Taddeo), Alanah Yukich (WA, Rose Monday)
3000m Steeplechase: Cara Feain-Ryan (QLD, Ben Norton), Amy Cashin (VIC, Sean Cleary)
High Jump: Nicola Olyslagers (NSW, Matt Horsnell), Eleanor Patterson (VIC, Fayazz Caan), Emily Whelan (NSW, Matt Horsnell)
Pole Vault: Nina Kennedy (WA, James Fitzpatrick)
Long Jump: Samantha Dale (NSW, Andrew Murphy), Delta Amidzovski (NSW, Becky Amidzovski)
Triple Jump: Desleigh Owusu (NSW, Andrew Murphy)
Discus Throw: Taryn Gollshewsky (QLD, Les Kuorikoski)
Hammer Throw: Stephanie Ratcliffe (VIC, Dale Stevenson), Lara Roberts (QLD, John Frazier)
Javelin Throw: Mackenzie Little (NSW, Angus McEntyre), Lianna Davidson (NSW, Angus McEntyre)
Marathon: Vanessa Wilson (VIC, Paul Wilson), Sarah Klein (VIC, Peter Schuwalow), Tara Palm (SA, Peter-John Bosch)
20km Race Walk: Rebecca Henderson (VIC, Simon Baker), Elizabeth McMillen (NSW, Jared Tallent), Alexandra Griffin (WA, Jared Tallent)
35km Race Walk: Olivia Sandery (SA, Jared Tallent), Henderson, Allanah Pitcher (NSW, Frank Overton)
Heptathlon: Camryn Newton-Smith (QLD, Ralph Newton), Tori West (QLD, Eric Brown and Sam Leslie)
4x100m Relay: Connolly, Edwards, Lewis, Rizzo, Georgia Harris (QLD, Paul Pearce), Leah O’Brien (WA, Braiden Clarke)
4x400m Relay: Beer, Yukich, Gross, Carla Bull (QLD, Brett Robinson), Jemma Pollard (NSW, Tim Eschebach), Carli, Amelia Rowe (WA, Brian Pozzi)
Notes:
Jemima Montag (20km Race Walk) and Lachlan Kennedy (100m)were previously announced but have withdrawn due to injuries.
Isobel Batt-Doyle was previously announced to compete in the marathon, but has withdrawn to focus her attention on the 10,000m.
Elizabeth McMillen was also announced in the 35km Walk and has withdrawn in favour of focussing on the 20km Race Walk
The Mixed 4x400m Relay to be selected from the 4x400m Squads.
*Four athletes have been entered into the Women’s 5000m, with the final athletes to be decided following the resolution of an appeal.
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted 3/09/2025
