Australian athletics team in Paris grows to 460

Sydney: Australia will send its largest ever contingent of track and field athletes to an overseas Olympic Games in Paris later this month, with a delegation of 75 athletes eventually taking the field to 460.

This Olympics delegation is Australia’s second largest since the Sydney Olympics, with 16 fewer athletes than represented Australia in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, and won 17 gold medals.

“The track and field team is the largest of any sport and will contribute greatly to creating a positive environment for the entire team,” said Anna Mills, the head of the delegation, in a statement.

“Today’s announcement confirms the Australian Olympic team to consist of 460 athletes – I am delighted to see this team representing the Australian people with pride and determination in less than three weeks’ time.”

World champion pole vaulter Nina Kennedy and two Tokyo Olympic bronze medalists, decathlete Ash Moloney and javelin thrower Kelsey Lee Barber, are leading the track and field team, which added 55 athletes on Monday.

“My definition of success is walking away from an Olympic final knowing that I gave it everything I could,” Kennedy said.

“If I win the gold medal, that would be great, but if not, then I can leave with no regrets.”

Barber will be joined in the women’s javelin final three by Mackenzie Little, who won bronze at last year’s world championships, and Kathryn Mitchell, 41, who will be making her fourth Olympic appearance.

Australia will send men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams to Paris for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Olympics and will compete in 39 of the 48 track and field events.

The women’s sprint relay team included junior Tori Lewis, who defeated Shakari Richardson and a strong field to win the 200m title in her first Diamond League appearance in Xiamen.

“It’s a relief to get the official selection after such an amazing year,” said the 19-year-old. “I always thought I’d be able to compete in the individual events, but to actually get the invitation is really exciting.”