Anneli Maley is set to lead a four-member Australian women’s 3×3 basketball team for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Gamgurrus team was announced by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) on Sunday.
Lauren Mansfield, Marena Whittle and Alex Wilson will join Maley in making their Olympic debuts in Paris. This is the first time that Australia will compete in the 3×3 basketball discipline. The sport was included in the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020.
“I’m so incredibly proud to be going to the Olympics. This is the 3×3 Olympic debut for Australia and to be part of that history is absolutely wild,” said captain Maley.
“Our team is incredible, we have overcome so many challenges to get here so we won’t be leaving anything on the court in Paris. This is a dream for me and for those who don’t know about 3×3 – tune in you’re gonna love it. Bring on Paris I can’t wait,” she added.
The Gangurrus, who won the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup earlier this year, secured a Paris 2024 quota by winning the FIBA 3×3 Universality Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2 in Utsunomiya, Japan in May.
The Australian women’s basketball team also won the bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup and won the Commonwealth Games bronze at Birmingham 2022.
The Gangurrus will square off against all other nations contesting the eight-team 3×3 tournament, taking on Canada, Germany, People’s Republic of China, USA, Azerbaijan, Spain and France.
The 3×3 basketball competition will be held from July 30 to August 5 at the La Concorde venue in Paris.
