Before the main torch of the Tokyo Olympics was lit, the Australian delegation had rewritten several pieces of history.
According to the latest data from the Australian Olympic Committee, there are 486 athletes in the delegation to Tokyo, who will participate in 33 major events, including karate, skateboarding, rock climbing, surfing and other new events, which is also the largest Olympic delegation in the history of Australia's overseas mission.
There will be 16 Indigenous athletes in the delegation, the highest in history. Among them, Ashley Barty, the world's number one female tennis player, just won wimbledon this month, and next, she has the opportunity to add another gold to her career.
Barty at the women's singles awards ceremony at the 2021 Wimbledon Tennis Open on July 10. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Han Yan
Australia is expected to maintain its strengths in traditional water sports such as swimming, rowing and sailing.
Swimming has always been an Australian team strength, and in the past two Olympic Games, the Australian swimming team has won a total of 20 medals and won one-fifth of the gold medals. This year's team, which includes numerous medal contenders including Ai Siebom and Kay Campbell, tied the record of Australian swimming legend Ly Jones in four Olympic games. Already four Olympic medals, Ai McKeone is also poised to strike again for the gold medal.
The Australian rowing and kayaking teams are expected to make waves on the field, with their teams not only holding the world record, but also being connected by strong family ties. Well-known kayaker Jay Fox and her sister followed in their parents' footsteps as athletes, and the 2012 London Olympic silver medalist hopes to reach a higher podium this year. Nippon And Ya Penell, who have competed in the Olympic Games since 2004, were the first pair to be selected for the Australian rowing national team. Lo Popa will make his debut in Tokyo, where her parents won medals for Australia at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Members of the Australian rowing team are in training on July 20. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zheng Huansong
Outside of traditional events, surfers will be on the Olympic stage for the first time. The Australian surf team is expected to be a strong contender for the medal. Currently, the world's third-ranked female surfer, Sa Fitzgibbons, has recently won several major international competitions.
Rugby, hockey, cycling and equestrianism are also popular sports in Australia.
The Australian women's song has previously won three Olympic gold medals, while the men's song has also won a gold, silver and five bronze results. Recently, in a series of matches against New Zealand, Australia has shown good form.
In cycling, Lo Martin and Na Diem will be Australia's first Olympic freestyle bMX athletes. Dan McConnell, a mountain biker, will be the first Australian to take part in the project four times.
Equestrian athletes Ann Hoy and MarHanna are also writing new Olympic records. The Olympics will be the 62-year-old's eighth Olympic journey, and he has now won three gold medals. Hannah, 66, is the oldest athlete on the team and the first female rider to take six Olympic dressage stages.
Produced by the Xinhua News Agency's Tokyo Olympic Games Reporting Group
Source: Xinhua News Agency