Three Australian Taekwondo athletes selected for Paris 2024. GETTY IMAGES

Australian Taekwondo (AT) and the Combat Institute of Australia announced the athletes selected for Australia’s Olympic Team for the Paris 2024. Stacey Hymer, Bailey Lewis, and Leon Sejranovic, who won the Oceania Qualifiers, will represent their country after Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares announced the trio's official selection.

"It's fitting to celebrate today's Olympic milestone here at the National Performance Centre – where the athletes work tirelessly day in and day out, away from the bright lights, to hone their craft and chase their Olympic dream.

Stacey Hymer is preparing to participate at her second Olympic Games. GETTY IMAGES
Stacey Hymer is preparing to participate at her second Olympic Games. GETTY IMAGES

"When they enter the incredible arena at Paris' Grand Palais, it will be due to all the work put in right here with their coaches, teammates and support staff," told Meares.

Hymer, a seasoned competitor in the 57kg division, is set to make her second appearance at the Games, while Lewis (58kg) and Sejranovic (80kg) will prepare for their Olympic debuts in Paris.

"It feels amazing to be selected for my second Olympic Games and to call myself a dual Olympian means the world to me," Hymer said.

"My goal for Paris is to win the first two fights and make it to the semi-finals. After that, I know I have put in the hard yards to get there, and I will have full confidence in myself and in my team," added the athlete.

From left to right - Bailey Lewis, Stacey Hymer, Leon Sejranovic. GETTY IMAGES
From left to right - Bailey Lewis, Stacey Hymer, Leon Sejranovic. GETTY IMAGES

Twenty-one-year-old Sejranovic said being selected for the Australian Olympic Team was an honour. "My goal for Paris is the same as it is for every competition I fight in and that is to win gold. Leading into the Olympics I want to get my body in peak physical condition - I want to be stronger and fitter than anyone that I come up against in Paris," added Sejranovic.

"It’s so exciting, I've worked so hard for so long to have this opportunity to represent my country at the Games,” he said. “I want to inspire the next generation by putting on a great performance and taking home a gold medal," said 26-years-old Lewis.

Saffron Tambyrajah had won Olympic Qualifying tournament, but WT decided not to allocate the quota to Australia. THE ATHLETE'S INSTAGRAM
Saffron Tambyrajah had won Olympic Qualifying tournament, but WT decided not to allocate the quota to Australia. THE ATHLETE'S INSTAGRAM

Australia had originally won 4 Olympic berths at the Oceania Qualifiers. Saffron Tambyrajah had won the gold medal in the women's -49 kg category and earned an Olympic berth for her country. However, World Taekwondo (WT) decided not to allocate the -49 kg quota to Australia, citing an insufficient number of competitors in the division at the Oceania Continental Qualifiers in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The Board of AT then appealed to CAS, but the decision is still pending.