Aussie Wrestlers Return To Olympic Stage For The First Time Since 2016

Credit: olympics.com.au

Jayden Lawrence and Georgii Okorokov have been selected in the Australian Olympic Team for Paris 2024, marking the return of Australians at the Olympic level for the first time since Rio 2016.

Both athletes will make their Olympic debuts, with Jayden in the men’s freestyle 86kg division and Georgii the men’s freestyle 65kg.

The athletes earned their qualification by finishing in the top two at the combined Africa/Oceania Olympic Qualifier in Egypt in late March, with their selections made official today.

Twenty-nine-year-old Jayden is a multiple Oceania and National champion, he won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and competed at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Twenty-seven-year-old Georgii’s impressive resume includes finishing tenth at the 2022 World Championships and winning the 2023 and 2024 Oceania Championships.

The pair will build on a 100-year legacy of Australian Olympic wrestlers, with Australia first competing at the Paris Olympics Games in 1924.

Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares congratulated the athletes on their selections.

“It is fantastic to have Australian wrestlers back at the Olympics in Paris,” Ms Meares said. “Congratulations to Jayden and Georgii on your selection, qualifying through a very challenging qualification pathway.

“This is also a day to celebrate for the entire Australian wrestling community, and the coaches, supporters, family and friends that have helped Jayden and Georgii chase their Olympic dream.

“We look forward to seeing these athletes build on Australian wrestling’s 100-year Olympic history as they write their own chapter in Paris.”

Jayden said making the Australian Olympic Team for Paris was more than a decade in the making.

“It’s a dream come true after just missing out in the last three Olympics. I was so determined to make it to Paris, and now that dream has become a reality,” Jayden said.

“In Paris I’m aiming to perform at my absolute best. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got, which for me means eyeing off a medal. Between now and the Games we are training in Kazakhstan, and we have got some high-level international competitions to prepare.

“Thank you to the whole Camden Valley Wrestling Crew – Alex Prates, Andrew Kanatli and Andrey Vorontsov, my partner Mellisa and Robert and Evelyn Lawrence.”

Georgii was thrilled to lock in his place on the Team for Paris.

“It is such a great honour to represent Australia at the biggest sport event on the planet,” he said. “There is nothing in my mind except an Olympic medal and I will do my best to be in the best possible shape for the Games.

“I would like to thank everyone who was and is with me on my athletic journey: my parents, coaches, the Australian Wrestling Federation and everyone who has assisted me in pursuing my Olympic dream.”

On being part of Australia’s return to the Olympic wrestling competition, Georgii was confident this would help inspire a new crop of wrestlers.

“It gives me motivation to train even harder because our performance will help to boost the visibility of wrestling in Australia. I believe wrestling has a bright future in our country.”

Wrestling Australia President Andrew Kanatli praised both athletes for achieving this Olympic milestone.

“We are extremely proud of both Jayden and Georgii, they both qualified for the Paris Games through one of the toughest qualification systems via Africa which very few Australians have achieved before,” he said.

“They exceeded the expectations of most people both here in Australia and within the international wrestling communities; all with self-belief, confidence and determination. Our high-performance management partners at CombatAUS and our Board were always confident with their capabilities to qualify and they both made a statement in doing so with first place in their divisions.

“We are now looking forward to Jayden and Georgii once again representing Australia and making heads turn on the international stage.”

CombatAUS CEO Alex Vallentine added his support for the wrestlers’ selection.

“In partnership with Wrestling Australia, it’s hugely exciting for us to have these two wrestlers officially selected to the Australian Olympic team for Paris 2024.

“Two experienced and capable athletes, we’re looking forward to watching them in action on the world’s biggest stage.”

The wrestling competition will be held at the Champ de Mars Arena in Paris between August 5 to 11.

The 2024 Olympic Games will be broadcast in Australia on the Nine Network, you can check out the competition schedule here.