The Illawarra’s 2024 Paris Olympians and Paralympians, including 10 Illawarra Academy of Sport alumni athletes, have been officially added to the Illawarra Olympic Tribute Wall in Wollongong.
Illawarra Academy of Sport alumni athlete and Australia’s greatest Olympian, Emma McKeon was joined by fellow IAS graduates Sarah Carli (hurdles), Ellen Perez (tennis) and Telaya Blacksmith (para-athletics) at the event at Lang Park as new tiles were unveiled that will be added to the wall.
The Illawarra Academy of Sport continued its history of producing athletes for the Olympics and Paralympics as 10 athletes were selected for Paris earlier this year – Emma McKeon, Sarah Carli, Ellen Perez, Blake Govers (hockey), Flynn Ogilvie (hockey), Grace Stewart (hockey), Kieran Woolley (skateboarding), Ruby Pass (gymnastics), Jasmine Greenwood (para-swimming) and Telaya Blacksmith.
The Illawarra Olympic Tribute Wall was built at Lang Park in 2000 at the time of the Sydney Olympic Games and includes the names of 164 Olympians and 15 Paralympians, with all previous Paralympians to be added in 2025.
In total, there were 22 athletes who represented the Illawarra in Paris from across the five local government areas of the region (Wollongong, Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee) with all the names to be added to the Illawarra Olympic Tribute Wall.
McKeon was part of the Illawarra Academy of Sport Swim Squad in her teen years, graduating in 2010 and winning the DRB Group Tobin Family Award for IAS Athlete of the Year.
McKeon, whose name features on the wall twice already after competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics, said the Illawarra Academy of Sport played a huge role in the development of her career.
“The Illawarra Academy of Sport was really the beginning for me, I was around 14 or 15 when I started,” McKeon said.
“I grew up in the Illawarra and to join the IAS with other like-minded, young athletes who have big dreams and opportunities was fantastic.
“To come together to meet new people, learn, have access to things like nutrition experts, sports camps, it gives you a taste of what’s to come and it was a great experience.
“The Illawarra Academy of Sport sets you up for your career and gives you confidence as a young athlete.”
First-time Paralympian Blacksmith, a teenage star of T20 400m running and a member of the Sydney Swans Academy, thanked the Illawarra Academy of Sport for their support throughout her career.
“The Illawarra Academy of Sport taught me a lot about nutrition, the gym, training, health and fitness and I owe a lot to the IAS,” Blacksmith said.
“I am so thankful for everything that they did for me and they have helped me so much during my career.
“They are a great organisation and they do a lot for young athletes across the Illawarra region.”
