Australian basketball great Jackson makes fifth Olympics aged 43

English Woman's Journal - Australian basketball great Jackson makes fifth Olympics aged 43

SPORTS 07.07.2024

Australian basketball great Jackson makes fifth Olympics aged 43 / Photo: William WEST - AFP

Australia's greatest women's basketballer Lauren Jackson was selected for a fifth Olympics Sunday, 12 years after her last Games in London.

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Now 43 and a mother-of-two, the power forward made her Australian debut 27 years ago and was part of the teams that medalled at all four Olympics between 2000 and 2012.

A four-time MVP in the United States' WNBA, she retired in 2016 with a persistent knee injury but made a tentative return two years ago for her hometown club in a bid to make one last Olympics.

Alongside Jackson, Cayla George and Marianna Tolo will play at their third Games, with Tess Madgen, Rebecca Allen, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith and Steph Talbot at their second.

"We have the absolute best team of athletes, we are much more than a team, we are a sisterhood and we carry with us all the Opals from the past and we draw on their strength," said team captain Madgen.

The Opals have won three Olympic silver medals (2000, 2004, 2008) and two bronze (1996, 2012), but have never managed to better dominant Team USA for gold.

Ranked three in the world, they head to Paris after two emphatic friendly victories this week in Melbourne over world number two China.

N.Macleod--EWJ

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English Woman's Journal - Australian basketball great Jackson makes fifth Olympics aged 43