Australian basketball legend Jackson to embrace her fifth Olympics

SYDNEY, July 7 (Xinhua) — Australia’s 43-year-old women’s basketball legend Lauren Jackson is to embrace her fifth Olympics, while on the men’s side, Patrick Mills and Joe Ingles will match Jackson’s feat wearing green and gold for the fifth time in Paris.

On Sunday, during a media conference held in Melbourne, the Australian Olympic Committee named a 28-strong squad for the women’s, men’s, and women’s 3×3 basketball events at Paris 2024.

Having bagged three silver medals and one bronze medal at the Olympics, Jackson will be joined by Cayla George and Marianna Tolo, who will play at their third Games for the Australian women’s basketball team, also known as “Opals.”

Captain Tess Madgen, Rebecca Allen, and Eziyoda Magbegor will return for their second to seek redemption after Australia’s hope for a podium finish was shattered by a 79-55 loss to the United States in the Tokyo Olympics quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Kristy Wallace, Samantha Whitcomb, Jade Melbourne, and 19-year-old Isobel Borlase are all set to make their Olympic debut.

“We have the absolute best team of athletes, we are much more than a team, we are a sisterhood and we carry with us all the Opals from the past and we draw on their strength,” said skipper Madgen.

“Every time I put on the green and gold, it gives me goosebumps. It’s hard to really put into words what it means. We are all so grateful to be here,” she added.

As for the men’s side nicknamed “Boomers,” the 12-player roster includes eight of the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalists.

In addition to Mills and Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova will show up at his fourth, while Dante Exum, Josh Green, Nick Kay, Jock Landale and Duop Reath will come back for their second.

There are four debutants among the Bommers, namely Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey, Will Magnay, and Jack McVeigh.

Following their gold at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore, Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle, and Alex Wilson answered the call of their national team “Gangurrus” to have an inaugural Olympic appearance.

Paris will see Australia’s maiden participation at the Olympic 3×3 Basketball competition after the discipline debuted in Tokyo 2020.

Grouped in Pool B, the World No. 3 Opals will play host France, Canada, and Nigeria. The Boomers have been drawn in Pool A with Canada, and the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments winner in Greece and Spain.

The Gangurrus will face off against all other nations contesting the eight-team 3×3 tournament, taking on Canada, Germany, China, the United States, Azerbaijan, Spain, and France.  ■