ASB MAGAZINE: The squad was announced by Surfing Australia Elite Program Manager Bede Durbidge at the Australian Surfing Awards on the Gold Coast with much anticipation and many of the athletes in the room including; Tyler & Owen Wright, Stephanie Gilmore, Stu Kennedy, Connor O’Leary, and Macy Callahan. The squad consists of 16 athletes deemed most likely to represent Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a shot at the very first Olympic Gold Medal in surfing.
Off the back of Surfing Australia’s Olympic Readiness Camp in January, where Australia’s top surfing athletes deemed most likely to be in contention for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games spent three days together, a consolidated group of 16 athletes have now been named in the 2018 Australian National Squad. The squad was selected by the Surfing Australia National Selection Committee. In addition to the 16 person squad, there is also an 8 person ‘reserve’ list that wasn’t announced on the night, but presumably incase of injury or withdrawal from the main squad.
The Surfing Australia National Selection Committee includes 7 x World Champion Layne Beachley, 4 x World Champion Mark Richards, ex WSL surfer and Talent Pathway Coach Kate Wilcomes, 3 x World Champion Mick Fanning and Surfing Australia Elite Program Manager Bede Durbidge.
The Squad was Unveiled at the Australian Surfing Awards on the Gold Coast
2018 Australian National Squad:
Julian Wilson – QLD
Matt Wilkinson – NSW
Owen Wright – NSW
Connor O’Leary – NSW
Adrian Buchan – NSW
Wade Carmichael – NSW
Mikey Wright – NSW
Ethan Ewing – QLD
Stuart Kennedy – NSW
Tyler Wright – NSW
Stephanie Gilmore – QLD
Sally Fitzgibbons – NSW
Nikki van Dijk – VIC
Keely Andrew – QLD
Bronte Macaulay – WA
Macy Callaghan – NSW
Surfing Australia Elite Program Manager Bede Durbidge said: “It gave me great pleasure to announce this incredibly talented Australian National Squad at the Surfing Australia Awards on Tuesday night on the Gold Coast. With the World Surf League World Championship Tour season about to kick-start this weekend at Snapper Rocks we at Surfing Australia want to support this squad as best we can to achieve their goals.”
Surfing Australia National High Performance Director Kim Crane said: “This group of athletes are already making their mark on the international stage, and the character and courage they display in their quest to become world’s best is an absolute credit to them. As a sport, we are grateful to have such incredible role models, and in identifying this group as our highest priority, we will do whatever we can to support their journey.”
Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark said: “The talent pool is a deep one in Australia and it was extremely tough for the selection panel to narrow the squad down, to the 16 athletes we have announced. These athletes are deemed most likely to represent Australia in the Japan 2020 Olympics and we look forward to working with them on their quest for WSL Tour victory and towards Japan 2020 Gold Medals.”
ENDS
Photo: Tyler and Owen Wright Going for Gold in Tokyo.
