Our local Olympic heroes

Rising Hockey star Amy Lawton will represent Australia at the Olympic Games. Picture: HOCKEY AUSTRALIA

By Nick Creely

The long wait is finally over, with the Tokyo Olympic Games to officially begin on Friday 23 July.

In what has been one of the toughest logistical challenges in sporting history as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage on, there is a sense of unity across the world as athletes congregate and come together.

The Australian Olympic Committee has named a 487-person squad, including 261 female, 226 male and 307 debutants.

Patty Mills and Cate Campbell will be the Australian opening flag bearers.

And – as always – there are talented players within our local region set to make a name for themselves at the Olympic Games.

Here are some of our locals from the Casey, Cardinia and Dandenong regions, including from our highly successful local WNBL franchise the Southside Flyers to keep an eye on:

Hockey

Amy Lawton (Emerald)

Age: 19

Olympic history: Debut

Event begins: Sunday 25 July

More:

Born in England, the gun youngster moved to Australia 12 years ago and settled in Emerald, before taking up hockey at her local club Casey, before moving to the Southern United.

Lawton made her debut for the Australian Under 18 team in 2018 at the Oceania Youth Olympics Games qualifier, winning gold, with the team then placing fifth in the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

Lawton was named to the 2020 Hockeyroos squad and was named Emerging Athlete of the Year Award at the Australian Institute of Sport Awards.

An Olympic debut now beckons for the rising star who is almost certain to excite on the world stage..

Table Tennis

Heming Hu (Dandenong)

Age: 27

Olympic history: Competed in Rio 2016 (defeated by Hong Kong)

Event begins: Saturday 24 July

More: The much-decorated Australian Table Tennis champion hailing from Dandenong has learnt plenty of lessons from the Rio games, and enters the Games supremely confident his team can make an impact in the Mixed doubles and Teams event.

“Once I come into the match, it’ll be love-all, and anyone can win from there,” he told Star News recently.

“Every point that’s won is gold.

“It’s a huge honour and a dream come true, especially a second time.”

Hu has worked heavily on his mindset during the Covid lockdowns, and he believes it’s been a catalyst for his transformation as an athlete and a person.

While it’s been a struggle to compete, and at times train during the pandemic, Hu – who achieved his highest Men’s World Ranking of 66 not that long ago – will be hoping to back up his strong recent history at the Australian National Men’s Singles Champion in 2019 with a strong Tokyo showing.

Heming Hu is preparing for his second Olympic Games. Picture: SUPPLIED

Basketball

Jenna O’Hea (Southside Flyers)

Age: 34

Olympic history: Competed in 2012 London (Bronze Medal)

Event begins: Tuesday 27 July

More: The Opals captain returns to the Olympic Games for the first time since the successful 2012 London Games, with the Southside Flyers superstar set to have a massive say on proceedings for the Aussies.

Originally from Traralgon, O’Hea first joined the Dandenong Rangers (now the Flyers) in 2005, before another stint from 2011-2014.

She has been with the Flyers since 2019, where she won the WNBL championship in 2020, her third overall. It’s safe to say her legacy is already secured.

She is an Australian basketball champion who will be desperate to add yet another glittering medal to her already impressive collection.

Jenna O’Hea during a clash with the Dandenong Rangers (now the Southside Flyers) in 2013. 89979

Leilani Mitchell (Southside Flyers)

Age: 36

Olympic history: Competed in Rio 2016

Event begins: Tuesday 27 July

More: Mitchell grew up in the Washington state city of Richland on the west coast of the US, but has an Australian background with her mother born in Australia, giving her the chance to represent the Opals.

Mitchell is a seasoned world traveller in the basketball fraternity, and in 2020 made her imprint on our local region by being a huge part of the Southside Flyers’ WNBL championship, where she was named as grand final MVP, and also won the Golden Hands Award.

She had a previous stint with the Dandenong Rangers in 2013/14, which was her first season in Australia.

The star guard – much like her skipper O’Hea – will have a huge say on how deep the Opals can go.

Sara Blicavs (Southside Flyers)

Age: 28

Olympic history: Debut

Event begins: Tuesday 27 July

More: A late call-up to the Olympic squad following the departure of Liz Cambage, the much-loved two-time WNBL champion will get her chance at Tokyo.

And what an opportunity it is to make a statement on the world stage of the Olympics.

The Southside Flyers 2020 WNBL champ, who was also in the All-WNBL Second Team last season has been a force on the Australian basketballing scene and in our local WNBL outfits for many years and will hope to replicate some strong performances already for the Opals, where she won gold with the national side at the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championships.

She’s a reliable forward who is capable of brilliant things on court with her versatility and ability to make things happen in key moments.

Sara first joined the Dandenong Rangers in 2012, before coming back to the franchise in 2015 where she has played ever since.

Southside Flyers star Sara Blicavs is Tokyo bound.
Picture: SUPPLIED

Athletics

Bec Henderson (Narre Warren)

Age: 20

Olympic history: Debut

Event begins: Friday 6 August (20km Women’s Race Walk)

More: The local race walking champion is set for her first Olympic games, with Henderson set to be the youngest to take part in the Women’s 20km Race Walk.

After Covid-19 saw the postponement of the World Athletics U20 Championships and the Olympics last season, Henderson has spent the time taking in extra training, challenging herself and conquered a 10km and two 20km race walks, placing in the top three Australians.

Aside from being one of the country’s most promising endurance athletes, Henderson has also seen success in triathlon and marathon swimming, having placed top five in multiple triathlon national championships and top five in national open water championships.

She is a versatile athlete set to excite for many years to come. It will be the first of many that the youngster gets to excite on the biggest international stage of them all.

Shooting

Laetisha Scanlan (Berwick)

Age: 31

Olympic history: Competed in Rio 2016

Event begins: Thursday 29 July

More: The Berwick local has been a star ever since her career started at the age of 15, competing in the 2016 Rio Games to finish fifth overall in what was a hugely promising debut on the world stage.

She has won various gold medals in Commonwealth Games and World Championships and will enter Tokyo with plenty of confidence and success behind her.

“I’m setting my sights firmly on Tokyo 2020, there’s some unfinished business for me after the Rio games, and I can’t wait to get stuck in,” she told Star News Group in a previous interview.

Laetisha is a bona-fide Australian champion who continues to improve with each passing competition, and will be one name to keep an eye on when the Women Shooting Trap event starts next week.

Sergei Evglevski (Berwick)

Age: 23

Olympic history: Debut

Event begins: Monday 2 August

More: It’s in the family for the Berwick rising star, with Sergei’s mother Lalilta Yauhleuskaya competing at six Olympic Games, two for Belarus in 1996 and 2000, and four for Australia in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

“They’ve been ridiculously supportive, anything I need they’ve been there to help,” he said of his family’s support.

“They’ve lived it, they always know what to say.”

But now it’s Sergei’s time to shine in his debut Olympic Games in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event.

He said that he was excited about qualifying for the Games, and to just put his best foot forward for his country .

“I don’t have anything specific like that, but for me, with the amount of time I have put in is get there and try my hardest,” he said

“Going in there and giving it my full effort is all I can do.”

It’s been a smooth lead into Tokyo, with Sergi achieving a clean sweep of the Australian Olympic trials with wins in each of the four events, so will enter the Games with plenty of confidence.

Sergei Evglevski has his sights set on the Tokyo Olympic Games. Picture: SUPPLIED