8 August 2024

While the whole country has been cheering on Australia’s Olympic success, a number of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne have had a little more to celebrate.

Five members of Australia’s team have a special connection to our schools. We congratulate each of them on their successes in Paris and hope that their achievements continue to inspire students everywhere:

• Dante Exum, formerly of Thomas Carr College, Tarneit, reached the men’s basketball quarterfinal as part of the Australian Boomers.
• Mia Gross, formerly of St Therese School, Torquay, competed in the women’s 200 m before bowing out in the repechage.
• Anastasia Kusmawan, formerly of MacKillop Catholic Regional College, Werribee, was part of Australia’s artistic swimming team, which achieved its best scores in all three events and finished 9th overall.
• Bailey Lewis, formerly of MacKillop Catholic Regional College, Werribee, and Bethany Catholic Primary School, Werribee North, reached the men’s 58 kg taekwondo quarterfinal.
• Ezi Magbegor, formerly of Penola Catholic College, Broadmeadows, competed in her second Olympics as part of the Australian Opals. The women’s basketball team defeated Belgium to win the bronze medal.
• Anabelle Smith, formerly of Holy Saviour Parish School, Vermont South, competed in her fourth Olympics in the women's synchronised 3m springboard.