Bronte Barratt elected to Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee as Olympic athlete representative

Three-time Olympian Bronte Barratt has been elected by her Olympic peers as their athlete voice on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games Organising Committee.

While the Committee won’t formally come into existence until legislation is passed by the Queensland Parliament later this year, Australia’s Olympians from Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020 were given the opportunity to vote for an athlete representative from a field of five candidates who nominated.

Bronte Barratt represented Australia in the pool at Olympic Games in Rio 2016, London 2012 and Beijing 2008, picking up gold, two silver and a bronze medal. In Beijing, she was part of the famous 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay team which took gold and broke the world record.

Bronte says as a Queenslander and an Olympian she is proud to bring the athlete perspective to the Organising Committee.

“I am very excited about the future for Brisbane and Queensland with the Olympic and Paralympic Games being held in my hometown. My three Olympic Games experiences were definitely the best time of my life and it’s these experiences that I believe will add value for the Committee.

“The Brisbane pitch was crystal clear that the athlete is front and centre. With my swimming and post-swimming career, I know I can provide the insights and decision making on behalf of athletes.

AOC President John Coates says athlete input of the next 11 years is critical for Brisbane to achieve the vision and legacy it seeks from the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We have to deliver a great Games for the athletes. They are at the heart of the Games. Congratulations to Bronte for being selected by her fellow Olympians to be that important voice from the very start.

“She understands the Olympic environment through three very different Olympic Games. This knowledge is vital in shaping the opportunity for Brisbane, Queensland and all Australia. There are ten year olds today whose Olympic Games experience in 2032 as athletes will be shaped by the input from Bronte at the Committee table over the next three years.

To be eligible, the athlete representative is required to be a Queensland resident and be an active athlete as defined in the Olympic Charter – in this case, meaning they will have competed in either Rio 2016 or Tokyo 2020.

The term of office for a Rio athlete will conclude following the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and for Tokyo athletes, the closing ceremony of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This means Bronte Barratt’s term will finish after the Paris 2024 Olympics’ Closing Ceremony.

There are two positions on the Organising Committee for athletes – one representing Olympians and the other representing Paralympians.

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