Beijing Gold Medallist Bronte Barratt Named On The Brisbane Olympic 2032 Organising Committee
Triple Olympic swimmer and Beijing gold medallist, Bronte Barratt has been elected as the athlete’s voice on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games Organising Committee, the Australian Olympic Committee announced today.
GREEN LIGHT: Bronte Barratt (right) with fellow Beijing golden girl Stephanie Rice gets the green light for Brisbane role. Photo Courtesy: Bronte Barratt Collection.
While the 2032 Committee won’t formally come into existence until legislation is passed by the Queensland Parliament later this year, Australia’s Olympians from Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020 were given the opportunity to vote for an athlete representative from a field of five candidates who nominated and competed at either of those Games.
The term of office for Barratt, as a Rio athlete, will conclude following the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and she will be joined by a yet to be nominated Paralympian.
Barratt’s Olympic career began in Beijing and she went on to represent Australia in London 2012 and Rio 2016, winning gold, two silver and a bronze medal.
In Beijing, she was part of Australia’s gold medal-winning 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay team which also included triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice, Linda Mackenzie and Kylie Palmer in world record time.
Brisbane-born Barratt says as a Queenslander and an Olympian she is proud to bring the athlete perspective to the Organising Committee.
“I am very excited about the future for Brisbane and Queensland with the Olympic and Paralympic Games being held in my hometown,” said Barratt.
“My three Olympic Games experiences were definitely the best time of my life and it’s these experiences that I believe will add value for the Committee.
ATHLETE’S VOICE: Proud Queenslander Bronte Barratt will be the athlete’s voice for her home town Games in 2032. Photo Courtesy: Swimming Queensland.
“The Brisbane pitch was crystal clear that the athlete is front and centre. With my swimming and post-swimming career, I know I can provide the insights and decision making on behalf of athletes.”
AOC President John Coates says athlete input over the next 11 years is critical for Brisbane to achieve the vision and legacy it seeks from the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“We have to deliver a great Games for the athletes. They are at the heart of the Games. Congratulations to Bronte for being selected by her fellow Olympians to be that important voice from the very start,” said Coates.
“She understands the Olympic environment through three very different Olympic Games. This knowledge is vital in shaping the opportunity for Brisbane, Queensland and all Australia.
“There are 10-year-olds today whose Olympic Games experience in 2032 as athletes will be shaped by the input from Bronte at the Committee table over the next three years.”