QAS supported athletes bound for Paris plus highlights from competitions

International competition results:

With the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaching, QAS supported athletes have been competing in various events both locally and internationally. Here’s our round up.

Diving – World Cup Berlin

Australia's diving contingent recently journeyed to Berlin as part of their preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics, competing in the second World Aquatics Diving World Cup.

QAS supported divers Maddison Keeney and Cassiel Rousseau made significant contributions to Australia's medal tally over the weekend.

Maddison Keeney showcased her prowess by clinching two silver medals in both the individual and synchronised 3m Springboard events. This achievement adds to her remarkable season, which has already seen her collect numerous medals at prestigious events such as the World Aquatics Championships and Diving World Cup in Montreal.

Meanwhile, Cassiel Rousseau displayed his talent by securing two bronze medals. His first bronze came in the Men's 10m platform event, followed by another bronze alongside Dominic Bedggood (VIC) in the Men's 10m Synchro event.

Bobsleigh – BMW IBSF World Cup, USA

In a thrilling season finale, QAS supported bobsledder, Bree Walker, achieved a historic victory in the Monobob event at Lake Placid.

Securing gold, Walker set a new track record of 59.22 seconds, becoming the first Australian to win a Monobob World Cup.

Finishing the 2023-2024 season as the world's second-ranked bobsledder, Walker is now in a strong position as she looks ahead to the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina two years from now.

Para-cycling - Track World Championship, Brazil

At the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Brazil saw QAS-supported athlete Korey Boddington having an exceptional debut, earning his first-ever world championship medal in the Men's C4 1000m Time Trial and securing a silver.

Boddington's outstanding performance placed him alongside teammate and fellow QAS supported athlete Michael Shippley, who won the bronze medal.

In addition to their achievements, Shippley and Boddington demonstrated their strength in the Mixed C Team Sprint bronze medal final, defeating France by 0.334 seconds.

Beach Volleyball – World Beach Pro Tour Futures, Gold Coast

On the final day of the World Beach Pro Tour Futures at Coolangatta Beach, QAS-supported Volleyroos pair Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic sealed a golden victory over the USA.

The future of beach volleyball looks promising as the duo has shown significant improvement over the last 12 months. The Gold Coast has become a special place for this dominant pair as they continue to excel.

Domestic competition results:

Para Athletics – State Championship, Queensland

During the State Championship in Queensland this past weekend, QAS-supported athlete Abby Craswell delivered a standout performance, setting a new Australian record in the women's T36 100m with a time of 14:42, surpassing her previous record.

This remarkable achievement places Abby in an excellent position as she joins 20 other Australian para-athletes gearing up for their final international competition before the big dance, with the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships taking place in Kobe, Japan from 17-25 May. This event marks their final opportunity to showcase their prowess before the highly anticipated Paris Paralympic Games.

Athletics – Track Classic, Sydney  

Australia's sprinters electrified the track at the Sydney Track Classic, setting a new national 4x100m record of 42.94 seconds.

The quartet, which included QAS supported sprinters Bree Masters and Torrie Lewis, demonstrated the results of their hard work in the relay program by breaking a 24-year-old record. For this impressive feat, Bree and Torrie teamed up with Ebony Lane from Victoria and Ella Connolly from New South Wales.

This achievement not only solidifies Bree and Torrie's positions but also sets a promising trajectory as they prepare for the World Athletics Relay Championships, which will take place in the Bahamas in May. This event serves as a crucial opportunity for Olympic qualification for the Paris Games.

Furthermore, Bree capped off the event with an outstanding individual performance, clinching victory in the 100m with a season-best and stadium-record time of 11.29 seconds (0.0).

Image Gallery

Image credits: (c)  Paralympic Australia,  Rogue Gun,  Bree Walker, David Tarbotton and  Diving Australia