Deakin students represent Australia at 2024 Paris Olympics

The Olympics will kick off from 26 July to 11 August, followed by the Paralympics from 28 August to 8 September.

Among the Australian contenders for Olympic gold – the highest of sporting glories – is current student Aislin Jones.

Aislin will take aim in the Women's Skeet shooting competition after debuting at the Rio Olympics in 2016 where she made history as the youngest every Olympic shooter.

On speaking about her journey to the Olympics, Aislin said it was a balancing act juggling her studies at Deakin in a Bachelor of Commerce with training, part time work and competing in the sport she has loved since the age of 12.

But she said it was an honour to don the Aussie uniform and represent her country, an Olympic dream that first started after she watched the London Olympics on TV more than a decade ago.

'I am incredibly disciplined and thrive on routine. Juggling training with study and work has taught me some really valuable time management skills and the importance of planning,' Aislin said.

'I'm incredibly excited and proud to have been selected for my second Australian Olympic Team to compete in Paris. After narrowly missing out on the selection for the 2020 Olympic Team, I am grateful to have earned the opportunity to be back in the green and gold for Paris.'

Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin congratulated Deakin's students and alums selected for the Olympic and Paralympic teams and wished them luck.

'Our Deakin students and alums have worked incredibly hard to represent their country, demonstrating their dedication, commitment and tenacity in the pursuit of achieving their goals,' Professor Martin said.

'We hope they all have a wonderful Olympic experience and wish them the best for their journey and competitions.'

Deakin Sport Network Director Professor David Shilbury said Deakin was a world leader in sport education and research and home to the world's top sport and exercise science school.

'Deakin offers our elite athlete students a unique footing to follow their athletic ambitions while also being supported to pursue an education at the same time,' Professor Shilbury said.

'Our Elite Athlete Program is designed to help students balance the demands of their sporting careers with their study requirements. They also benefit from advanced training facilities at the university’s elite sports precinct in Waurn Ponds.'

Paralympic selections are underway, but Deakin is proud to announce two current students have so far been selected to represent the nation.

These are Master of Business (Sport Management) student Alex Viney, who will be competing at the Paralympics for the second time after coming fourth in the Para-rowing PR3 Mixed Coxed Four at Tokyo 2020.

And Nathan Pellissier will take on champions from around the world in Para-table tennis before returning to Deakin to continue his studies in Accounting and Finance.

Deakin University current and former students competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games (this list will be updated):

Lucy Stephan – rowing

Lauretta Hanson – cycling

Alex Viney – para-rowing

Rhydian Cowley – race walk

Marena Whittle – basketball

Nathan Pellissier – Para-table tennis

Rebecca Allen – basketball

Blake Edwards – water polo

Jean Mitchell – rowing

Paige Barr – rowing

Abbey Caldwell – women’s 800m

Aislin Jones – shooting

Emily Whitehead – gymnastics

Finn Luu – table tennis

Kate McDonald – gymnastics

Brooke Buschkuehl – athletics

Deakin University is not a sponsor of, or affiliated in any way with, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, any Olympic team, or the Olympic Movement.