Stevens and Solomon to captain Australian Athletics Team

Three-time Olympian Dani Stevens and London 2012 Olympian Steve Solomon have been announced as the Co-captains of the Australian Athletics Team for the Tokyo Olympics.

The announcement was made at the Australian Athletics Team staging camp in Cairns by AA General Manager, High Performance, Andrew Faichney who said he is confident that the duo will create a cohesive team culture that will help strengthen a team unit which consists of 64 athletes. 

“The Australian Athletics Team has a proud history at the Olympic Games, but it’s no secret that this Games cycle has thrown us a range of challenges and it is important that we create a culture that supports success,” Faichney said.

“Dani is heading to her fourth Olympic Games, and Steve made the London 2012 finals at the young age of 19. They not only have extensive experience across a multitude of Australian teams, but both have natural leadership skills that will help them build a strong sense of identity among the team in Tokyo.

“I’m honoured to appoint these two athletes into the roles, and I look forward to seeing them draw upon their own individual experiences and build a strong foundation so that when our team arrives in Tokyo, athletes can focus on their individual goals, and know that there is a strong peer support network behind them.”

Former world champion Stevens will be heading to Tokyo as one of the most experience track and field athletes on the Australian Olympic Team. She is one of a rare few to have won youth, junior and senior world titles and has stood on the top of the dais multiple times at the Commonwealth Games. At her last Olympics in Rio, she placed fourth.

“I’m chuffed, and I was gob smacked when I was asked to be the team captain. I’m proud to accept that role but I’m also very proud of the team that we have put together,” Stevens said.

“Athletics is an individual sport, and that means that sometimes it lacks a bit in creating immediate cohesion in comparison to team sports. I know from my basketball background the camaraderie that comes in a team environment, so by having captains on the Australian Athletics Team, we can lead and create opportunities to bond through games and shared experiences and knowledge."

Stevens said she also hopes to take learnings from her experience to best lead a team through the unpredictable nature of these Games.

“Every Olympics I’ve been to has been completely different and I think I’m able to wade through what’s important and what needs to be focused on and what’s not important. When we get there, I know we need to focus on our own competition, but there will be a lot of distractions that aren’t at a normal Olympics. As a team, we’ll be prepared to go in there and execute well and be the best team we can be.”

Solomon, who is currently in Sydney, has an extensive list of achievements, including a successful stint as Co-captain at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. At the London 2012 Games, he was the youngest athlete to compete in the 400m, yet still became the first Australian man in 24 years to reach the 400m Olympic final.

“I’m so excited to continue in this role leading into Tokyo. Our talent is equal to our headcount, and I have great hopes for many spectacular and memorable performances over in Tokyo,” Solomon said.

“Culture is an important part of the Olympic experience. Dani and I want to create a community that feels homely and familiar and one that is underscored by high performance. We want each member of our team to feel supported, valued and inspired to bring their best to the Games.

“We want to make sure that each athlete feels at home in Japan and are ready to give their best performances on the track. We want to inspire professionalism, we want to create some fun and we want to be the first and biggest cheerleader of our talent and determined group.”

The Athletics competition at the Olympics will take place from July 30 in both Tokyo and Sapporo.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 16/7/2021