Mia Gross makes Aussie team for Olympics

GEELONG-born athlete Mia Gross is on her way to Paris, named today (Monday, July 8) as part of Australia’s team for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Gross, 23, went to Geelong Grammar and is one of two Australians chosen to compete in the women’s 200m event.

A  national champion, Gross won silver in the 200m at this year’s Oceania Athletics Championship and won bronze for Australia as part of the women’s 4x100m team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

She joins fellow Geelong Grammar graduate Lauren Ryan in the Australian athletics contingent.

Ryan was selected for the 10km in April and had the 5000m added to her Olympic duties today.

The Australian Olympic Committee’s selection of an additional 55 track and field athletes to the Paris team adds to the 20 selected earlier this year for an overall 75-member athletics squad.

The 75-strong athletics team is Australia’s second largest ever behind Sydney 2000 and largest sent away to the Olympics.

Australians will contest 39 of the 48 athletics events in Paris, again second only in Australia’s Olympic history to the Sydney 2000 home squad.

The 55 announced today includes 30 debutants, 19 returning for their second Games, five at their third Games and javelin athlete Kathryn Mitchell  becoming the seventh Australian woman to compete at four Olympics in athletics.

The total 75-member athletics squad comprises two athletes competing at their fourth Games, 13 at their third, 26 returning for a second Games and 34 athletes making their Olympic debut.

Athletics Australia chief executive officer Peter Bromley celebrated the finalisation of the athletics squad for Paris.

“It is an incredibly proud moment to announce any Australian team, but to see one of Australia’s largest and strongest teams heading to the Olympics is something else,” he said.

“With six athletes who medalled at last year’s World Athletics Championships and three medallists from the Tokyo Olympic Games, our team exemplifies the strength and depth of Australian athletics. We’re excited to see our athletes test their skills against the best in the world at the pinnacle event.”