Newcastle and Hunter public schools are getting right behind our Olympic athletes as they go for gold in Paris.
Olympic debutants, Clare Wheeler (Hunter Sports High School) and Ky Willott (Belmont Public School and Belmont High School), will be joined by fellow public school alumni and Matildas player Emily van Egmond (Warners Bay and Whitebridge high schools), Hockeyroo Mariah Williams (Hunter Sports High School) and men's water polo co-captain Nathan Power (New Lambton Public School and Merewether High School) at the Games.
Local public schools will also go green and gold on Friday 2 August in support of our Olympians.
NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said more than 50 former NSW public school students would fly the flag at the 2024 Olympic Games, making up a sizeable chunk of the 460-strong Australian team.
"We are incredibly proud of our students and alumni who have achieved the extraordinary honour of qualifying for the Paris Olympics," he said.
"This remarkable achievement is a result of years of hard work and dedication, but also unwavering support and encouragement from their public schools, teachers, coaches, and families.
"NSW public schools have a long-standing tradition of excellence, and these athletes exemplify the best of what our education system can produce.
"As we prepare to honour our NSW public school alumni in Public Education Week (5-9 August), their journey to the Paris Olympics serves as an inspiration to all current students, reminding them that with passion and commitment, anything is possible."
The success of NSW public school students at the Olympics dates back to the 1900 Paris Games, when former Sydney Boys High School student and national sprint champion Stan Rowley became the first Australian-born competitor and medallist.
One of just two Australians participating in France, Rowley picked up bronze medals in the 60m, 100m and 200m races, before joining the English in a 5000m teams race, where they won gold.
A long line of excellence from former NSW public school students at the Games has followed, including swimmers Ian Thorpe (East Hills Boys High School) and Dawn Fraser (Leichhardt Home Science School) and sprinters Betty Cuthbert (Parramatta Home Science School) and Marjorie Jackson (Lithgow High School), who are among our greatest-ever Olympians.
The establishment of sports high schools, starting with Westfields Sports High School at Fairfield West in 1991, has led to further success, with nearly 50 students representing Australia at Olympic and Paralympic level.
There are now eight government sports high schools across the state balancing the needs of emerging athletes with a first-class education.
Their influence is no better exemplified than by the Matildas, with sports high schools providing five members of the 2024 Olympics squad, while a further four players also attended a NSW public high school.
A close relationship with the Australian Olympic Committee was further strengthened after sports high schools became official Olympic pathway schools in 2023.
The 2024 Olympic Games start on 26 July and conclude on 11 August. The 2024 Paralympic Games run from 28 August to 11 September.
