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Record Number of Aussie Student-Athletes selected for Sochi Winter Olympics

Winter Games 30 January 2014

 

 Australian Uniroos rep Alex Almoukov (r) won the Bronze Medal in the biathlon 12.5km pursuit at the 2013 WU

MILTON – Ahead of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has released selections for Australia’s largest ever delegation – staring a record number of 28 university athletes. Australia will be represented in 10 of the 15 sports in Sochi, with 60 skiers, snowboarders, skaters and sliders making up the team.

The Winter Olympics follow a successful Australian campaign at the recent Winter Universiade, held last December, 2013 in Trentino, Italy where Australia was represented by 22 “Australian Uniroos”

Australia brought home one bronze medal courtesy of Alex Almoukov, following a stellar performance in the biathlon 12.5km pursuit. Alex will now back up his representation at the Universiade, with a spot on the Australian Winter Olympics team.

Australian University Sport (AUS) CEO, Don Knapp, was delighted to see a strong representation of student athletes on the team and said it was testament to the support of elite athlete programs at Australian universities.

“A number of Australian universities have scholarships which allow athletes to not only pursue their elite sporting careers, but also to maintain a healthy balance and complete tertiary education”, Don Knapp explained. “We know there is evidence this support is contributing to Australia’s success on the international sporting stage. Following the 2012 London Olympics, 63% of Australian medallists were university students.”

AUS also hosts an annual Australian University Championship (AUC) for Snow Sports, which rotates between Thredbo and Mt Buller. The event attracts over 300 students with a programme of 15 disciplines. Several athletes of the Australian Winter Olympics team frequent the AUC Snow Sports, seeing it as a perfect “at home” event to build up competition experience and represent their university.


Full list of Australian University athletes include:

Former Australian Uniroos, who have competed at a Winter Universiade

Name

University

Discipline

Phil Bellingham

Charles Sturt University

Cross Country Ski

Esther Bottomley

Charles Sturt University

Cross Country Ski

Callum Watson

The University of New South Wales

Cross Country Ski

Aimee Watson

The University of Sydney

Cross Country Ski

Alexi Almoukov

Tyumen State University

Biathlon

Lucy Glanville

Macquarie University

Biathlon

 

Athletes who have competed at AUS events:

Name

University

Discipline

Katya Cremer

The University of Melbourne

Ski Cross

Anton Grimus

The University of New South Wales

Ski Cross

Scott Kneller

The University of Melbourne

Ski Cross

Lucas Mata

Edith Cowen University

Bobsleigh  

Brodie Summers

The University of Melbourne

Moguls

 

Athletes who have studied at university or who are currently enrolled at university:

Name

University

Discipline

Lucy Chaffer

The University of Notre Dame Australia

Skeleton

Daniel Greig

Deakin University

Speed Skating

Duncan Harvey

Queensland University of Technology / Southern Cross University

Bobsleigh

Sami Kennedy-Sim

University of Canberra

Ski Cross

Lydia Lassila

RMIT

Aerials

David Morris

RMIT

Aerials

Gareth Nichols

The University of Newcastle

Bobsleigh

Danielle O’Brien

The University of Sydney

Ice Dancing Mixed

Jenny Owens

University of New England

Ski Cross

Laura Peel

Charles Sturt University

Aerials

Jana Pittman

University of Western Sydney

Bobsleigh

Astrid Radjenovic

The University of Sydney

Bobsleigh

Danielle Scott

Open Learning Australia

Aerials

Anna Segal

Monash University

Ski Slope style

Heath Spence

Victoria University

Bobsleigh

Michelle Steele

The University of Queensland

Skeleton

Sam Wells

Edith Cowen University

Aerials

Lavinia Chyrstal

The University of Sydney

Alpline Ski

Matt Graham

The University of Newcastle

Moguls

 

(Source: AUS)