Olympic Special｜Students from La Trobe University will shine on the world stage

🎉Celebrate the Olympics together🎉

In the coming weeks, students, faculty, and alumni of La Trobe University will join the Australian team in competing for gold medals at the Olympics and Paralympics.Eight members from La Trobe University will don the green and gold uniform in Paris, representing Australia at these two world-class sporting events.

Highlighting Achievements and Excellence Rankings

La Trobe University not only excels in sports competitions but also stands out in the academic field.In the 2025 QS rankings, La Trobe University's sports-related disciplines ranked 46th globally*,This achievement further solidifies our leading position in global education and training.

Additionally, asthe first Australian university to receive the Platinum Certification from the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Healthy Campus Program,we have enhanced overall well-being in multiple areas (including sports and physical activities, nutrition, psychological and social health, sustainability, and social responsibility).

La Trobe Stars Representing Australia

Congratulations to the following La Trobe University students and alumni who will represent Australia at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics:

Laura Paegliswill participate in the Olympics for the first time, aiming for gold in thewomen's individual and mixed team archery events. She helped the Australian team qualify for the mixed team event at the 2023 Pacific Games and secured her Olympic spot in the past five qualification tournaments. The 22-year-old Paeglis is also a member of the Victorian Institute of Sport archery program and recently completed testing at the La Trobe University Sports Performance Centre.

"After years of training and hard work, it's really exciting to be in this position. I've been working towards this goal for several years, so I really hope to perform my best at the Olympics."— Laura Paeglis, Archery 🏹

22-year-oldAmy Lawtonis a veteran of the Australian women's hockey team and will compete in her second Olympics. She made her national team debut in 2019 and quickly emerged as arising star in world hockey. She participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) and helped the team reach the quarter-finals. In 2022, she won a bronze medal at the FIH Women's World Cup and a silver medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. As the 2022 La Trobe University Blue Athlete Award winner and a 2023 Young World Player of the Year nominee, Lawton is seen as a key player in helping the Australian women's hockey team compete for a medal in Paris.

"I do feel like I've found my place in the team—I feel that in training, the girls have given me confidence and trust."— Amy Lawton, Hockey 🏑

Matthew Clarkewill represent Australia in the3000m steeplechase, marking his second Olympic journey after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, he won his first national steeplechase championship and secured a spot at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. This year, he won national and Oceania championships and set a personal best in Spain, breaking the world record set by Kerry O'Brien in 1970.

"For three years, my goal has been to perform at the high level I know I can in Paris. Knowing the opportunity is right in front of me is really exciting."— Matthew Clarke, Steeplechase 🏃

Ahmed Kelly's inspirational story continues as he is selected for theAustralian Paralympic Teamfor the fourth time. Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Kelly and his brother Emmanuel lived in an orphanage before being adopted by their mother, Moira. Despite these challenges, Kelly did not give up on his sports dreams. He won the La Trobe University Blue Athlete Award in 2017 and will strive to replicate or even surpass his achievements in Tokyo, where he won a silver medal in the men's 150m individual medley SM3.

Ahmed Kelly, 🏊

Bridget Murphywill also represent Australia at the Paralympics, competing in theGrade II Para-Equestrianclassification. Although she started riding horses from a young age, Murphy only switched from competing with able-bodied competitors to para-equestrian five years ago, marking her rapid rise to her first Paralympic Games in Paris.

Murphy said, "About five years ago, another Paralympian, Sharon Jarvis, convinced me to switch to para-equestrian, and I've loved it ever since. It's the dream we had when we started riding, and to represent the national team with such great teammates, I'm really excited."

Dr. Ebonie Rio, currently a senior clinical researcher at La Trobe University, will travel to Paris as a physiotherapist with the Australian Olympic Team, while Dr. Matt Driller (Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at La Trobe University) will serve as the recovery physiologist for the Australian Paralympic Performance Team. La Trobe University alumna Kate Arton (Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience with Honours) will also be part of the support staff, caring for Bridget Murphy's horses.

Looking Ahead to Paris

The 2024 Paris Olympics will open on July 26 and run until August 11. The 2024 Paris Paralympics will follow, from August 28 to September 8. Follow La Trobe Sport's social media pages for the latest updates, features, and reviews of our representatives heading to Paris.

La Trobe University Sport

If these international sports events have got your blood pumping, La Trobe University can be your stepping stone into the sports industry.Sports-related disciplines have always been a proud flagship major at La Trobe University, with its sports-related courses ranking 46th globally in the 2024 QS rankings.

La Trobe places particular emphasis on the cultivation of sports talents. Whether you aspire to be a professional athlete, agent, coach, or sports scientist, La Trobe has the right program waiting for you! Students at La Trobe University will have access to invaluable resources, not just in research projects, but also more internship opportunities, allowing them to meet and learn from industry professionals, and immediately put into practice what they've learned.

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La Trobe University is a registered provider under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). La Trobe University CRICOS Provider Number 00115M TEQSA PRV12132 - Australian University May 2024

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