Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Marathon Swimmer Kai Edwards Completes Aussie Olympic Swim Team


The Australian Olympic Committee has selected Kai Edwards to his debut Olympics in the 10km Open Water Swim.

 

Today’s selection comes after the 22-year-old locked in qualification with a fifth place finish at the final Olympic Qualifying event in Setubal, Portugal last week.

 

Edwards joins teammate Kareena Lee, who was

selected in October 2019 for the women’s 10km event, in the open water discipline, with today’s selection completing the full 37-strong Australian Olympic swimming team.

 

FULL ATHLETE BIOS AVAILABLE HERE

 

Edwards and Lee will compete in Tokyo’s Odaiba Marine Park with the backdrop of Tokyo’s cityscape throughout their 10km marathon swim.

 

Ian Chesterman, Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team in Tokyo, welcomed today’s selection.

“Congratulations Kai on making your first Australian Olympic Team,” Mr Chesterman said.

“Kai has shown he can perform when the pressure’s on, securing his spot for Tokyo with a top-5 finish at the last chance Olympic qualifier in Portugal. It was a huge effort after such a challenging time since the postponement of the Games.

“While Kai remains training in Europe before heading to Tokyo, I’m sure his family, friends, coaches and supporters are all celebrating back here in Australia today.”

 

The Gold Coast local said it feels amazing to make his first Olympic Team.

 

“You dedicate your life to a dream you have as a young kid and to make it a reality feels incredible,” Edwards said. “You, your family, your partner, friends and coaches sacrifice so much to get to this point so I know I’m making the most of this opportunity.

 

“The qualifying race in Portugal was definitely testing, being quite a physically brutal race. Like any race regardless of the outcome I will always take away positives and learn to develop my racing. Finishing 5th at this event and racing well here definitely gives me confidence going into the Olympics.

 

“It’s definitely a privilege to join the pool team and Kareena lee as a part of the open water team, being the 3rd ever Australian to swim at the Olympics for the 10km marathon swim is really special to me.

 

“I also have other teammates I train with that I’ll be joining at the Olympics including David Morgan, Cameron McEvoy, Maddy Gough and Kiah Melverton. To share such a prestigious moment of my life with fellow teammates is something I’ll always cherish.”

 

Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo – Marathon Swimming

Name

Event

Age

Olympic Games

Suburb

State

Postcode

Kai Edwards

10km

22

Debut

Labrador

QLD

4215

Kareena Lee

10km

27

Debut

Marcoola

QLD

4564

 

The Marathon Swimming competition will be conducted on 4th (Women’s) and 5th (Men’s) of August at the Odaiba Marine Park.

 

Today’s announcement takes the number of athletes selected to 321 of an expected 450-480. Catch all the latest team info, stats and athlete bios at www.olympics.com.au/games/tokyo-2020/team/

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