We're all so proud!

Moreton Bay and Somerset are leading the charge at this year’s Paris Olympic Games, with six athletes calling the region their home.

Kaylee McKeown Image: AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

Swimmer Kaylee McKeown, track and field specialists, Calab Law, Ella Connolly, and Liam Adcock, Matildas’ goalkeeper, Teagan Micah, and shooter Dane Sampson are all representing Australia in a variety of sports.

Kaylee McKeown has already won one gold medal at the Paris Games for the 100m backstroke and (at the time of print) was vying to add a 200m backstroke medal to her tally.

The Caboolture local is representing Australia for the second time at an Olympic Games.

The 23-year-old is already a decorated swimmer, winning three gold medals and one bronze in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Kaylee broke the world records for the 50m backstroke and the 100m backstroke during her performance in the 2023 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup held in Budapest.

In the 100m backstroke, Kaylee is so dominant that she holds all the top five times in history and all but one of the top 10.

Kaylee has already had an exceptional 2024, winning four gold medals during the Australian Championships and earning her place on the Paris Olympics team.

On the second night of the Australian Olympic trials in Brisbane in June, she won the 100m backstroke event with the second-fastest time in history.

20-year-old Calab Law is an Indigenous athlete and Caboolture local, going on to compete in the 200m and 4x100m relay.

Following an exceptional 2022 season, where he won bronze at the World Under-20 Championships, Calab Law has matured into Australia’s best senior 200m runner.

Calab is from the Wakka Wakka tribe near Cherbourg, Queensland, and grew up idolising fellow athlete Cathy Freeman.

Speaking to Olympics.com, Calab explained how Freeman had given him hope that “being a world and Olympic champion is possible as a fellow Indigenous sports person”.

Initially a hurdler and a long jumper, Calab was drawn to track and athletics by family connections. His aunt was a 400m runner and after she watched him run, gave him the inspiration to pursue this untapped potential.

After overcoming a stress fracture to his spine in early 2023, Calab went on to win the 100m and 200m later in the year at the Pacific Games, held in the Solomon Islands.

On top of securing his Olympic selection, Calab has also won the National and Oceanic 200m titles this year.

Another Moreton Bay athlete who made the 2024 Olympic team is Matilda’s goalkeeper, Teagan Micah. The Redcliff e local was first announced as a member of the Australian football team for the 2019 FIFA World Cup competition.

During her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Teagan assisted her team in making it all the way to the semi-finals, before narrowly missing out on a medal during the bronze medal match against the United States.

The 26-year-old has since brought her talents to the UK where she plays for Liverpool Football Club in the English Women’s Super League.

28-year-old Liam Adcock is another Redcliff e local who is competing in long jump for the Paris Olympics.

At eight-years-old, Liam dreamed of representing Australia in the Olympics after watching the Athens 2004 games.

Liam initially chose tennis as the sport he would train in; however, an elbow injury at 16 years old forced him to consider a different path.

“I still hadn’t given up my Olympic dream, I just had to find a new sport,” he said.

Liam set his sights on triple jump as his sport of choice, but eventually settled on long jump following the advice of a coach.

After battling numerous injuries between 2019 and 2021, Liam resumed competition in 2022, getting within 3cm of his personal best.

The injuries were a motivation to push harder and have “one last crack” to make the Olympics team.

Liam has made great strides in long jump since, achieving second this year at the Nationals and winning first at the Oceania Championships.

Burpengary local, Ella Connolly, is also making her Olympic Games debut this year, competing in the 100m and the 4x100m track relay.

Ella was just 10 years old when she began competing in athletics, winning the 100m at the National Primary School competition.

The now 24-year-old has gone on to have an impressive career, placing sixth in the 200m during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, becoming the highest placed Australian for the event in the last 20 years. This year, Ella claimed the 100m Oceanic title and helped break the national record with the Australian 4x100m relay team.

Last but not least, is four time Olympian and Somerset local from Coominya, Dane Sampson, who will be representing Australia this year for shooting.

Dan started shooting competitively at a young age and long dreamt of one day representing Australia at an Olympic level.

The 37-year-old comes from a family of experienced shooters with his mum and aunt both representing Australia in competitive shooting at varying points in their lives.

After making his Olympic debut during the London 2012 games, Dan has continued to prove himself a serious competitor, racking up numerous impressive achievements during his career, participating in subsequent Commonwealth, Olympic and World Championship competitions.

Dane is nothing if not a man of varied interests.

When asked what he is most likely to be doing when not training or competing, he told Olympics.com: “Reading philosophy, learning a new language, bouldering, being active with friends (or) woodwork.”

We congratulate all the athletes and wish you all the best of luck and happy Olympics Games!