Claudia Hollingsworth, a nineteen-year-old track star, had an exceptional day winning a national title and securing a spot in Australia’s Olympic team in a matter of hours.
Hollingsworth was one of 14 athletes selected for the Olympic team with Chef de Mission Anna Meares present in Adelaide to confirm their participation in Paris.
The list also included athletes like Matt Denny (discus), Michelle Jenneke (hurdles), Jessica Hull (1,500m), Nicola Olyslagers (high jump), Eleanor Patterson (high jump), Peter Bol (800m), Lauren Ryan (5,000m), Abbey Caldwell (800m), and Chris Mitrevski (long jump).
A group of race walkers, led by Jemima Montag and including Rebecca Henderson, Kyle Swan, and Rhydian Cowley, were also selected.
This announcement is the first of three waves of selections for Australia’s top athletes, with final teams to be determined in July, just ahead of the Olympics.
Hollingsworth had a standout performance in the women’s 800m final, setting a personal best time of 1:58.40 and turning her dream into reality.
“It’s a dream and a goal for so many people, so it was always in the back of my mind as something I wanted to do,” Hollingsworth said.
“So I thought about it for a little bit, but I didn’t want to have that pressure. So I only really thought of it once I crossed that finish line.
“It’s definitely my best ever day. Having my family and friends and teammates and my coach here, it’s just crazy.
“I’ve sort of hit the pinnacle of what I can do in Australia, so let’s see what I can do overseas.”
Hollingsworth was elated standing next to Tokyo Olympian Hull, whose impressive performance in the 1,500m final on Saturday secured her spot.
“I was standing next to Claudia, and I said ‘I can’t stop smiling’ and she said ‘me neither!’,” Hull said.
“She broke the junior record a few weeks and I was floored, because that junior record was so strong. When she broke it, I sent her a message and said that was phenomenal.”
Hollingsworth looks up to experienced athletes like Hull and Jenneke, hoping to learn a lot from them at the Olympics in Paris.
“It’s wild. Already they’ve been so nice, congratulating me and giving me a hug,” Hollingsworth said.
“I look up to them so much, I think they’re such stars. I really aspire to be like them. To know they have the experience, hopefully I can learn a lot off them at these Olympics.”
Hull made the 1,500m final in Tokyo but her recent form suggests she will be aiming for even more in Paris.
For now though, she is still letting today’s accomplishment sink in.
“It’s so special, you don’t realise it’s going to strike you like it did. I was teary, it was like ‘oh my god, I’m going to my second Olympics’.
“It’s what we train for, it’s so special.”
Hollingsworth’s success preceded an intense battle in the men’s 800m, won by 20-year-old Luke Boyes with Bol finishing second.
Olyslagers set a new championship record in the women’s high jump, clearing 2.01m in her best performance of the season so far.
Jenneke secured another 100m hurdle title with a season-best time of 12.88 seconds, beating Liz Clay who finished in 13.03 seconds.
Torrie Lewis won the national 200m title, clocking 23.05, while Caleb Law claimed the men’s 200m national title with a time of 20.54.
