Hawkesbury’s Courtney Nevin to Join Matildas at Paris Olympics

The Hawkesbury’s own Courtney Nevin is set to compete at the Paris Olympics as a travelling reserve for the Matildas, Australia’s national women’s football team. 

Last month, the Australian Olympic Committee announced the 18-member Matildas squad for Paris 2024, with Nevin chosen as one of four travelling reserves. These reserves can replace an athlete in the event of injury or other withdrawal from the team.

Courtney Nevin and Mary Fowler

Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston congratulated Nevin in a speech to Parliament; “In Hawkesbury, we claim Courtney and are incredibly proud of her sporting prowess, culminating in her national representation. I would also like to acknowledge Courtney’s parents, Angelica and Phil, who must be very proud of their daughter. Courtney is a defender, and the Matildas’ first Olympic match is at 3 AM on the 26th of July, where they will take on the formidable German team in Marseille. Mr Speaker, like many Australians and her legions of Hawkesbury fans, I will be cheering Courtney Nevin and the Matildas on their Olympic journey. Go Courtney!”

Nevin currently plays fullback for Leicester City in the English Women’s Super League and represents Australia on the Matildas team. She began her stellar career with the Oakville Ravens before joining the Blacktown Spartans in the NPL. She is also contracted to the Western Sydney Wanderers in the Women’s League.

The Matildas, captained by Steph Catley, includes eight athletes who will become the first Australian footballers to compete in three Olympic Games. These athletes are Catley, vice-captain Emily Van Egmond, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne, and Tameka Yallop. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Teagan Micah, and Hayley Raso are returning for their second Games. At the same time, Clare Hunt, Kaitlyn Torpey, Cortnee Vine, and Clare Wheeler will make their Olympic debut. The Matildas enter Paris following Australia’s best-ever finish in Olympic football, having secured fourth place in Tokyo.

Matildas Head Coach Tony Gustavsson welcomed the announcement, saying: “This has been an incredibly challenging squad to select with so many quality players competing fiercely for limited spots. It has been a methodical process over the past couple of years to reach this point, and each of the players selected brings unique and beneficial qualities to our team that will be vital for our Paris 2024 campaign. I would like to congratulate all the players selected and the teammates, coaches, family, and friends who have supported them to this moment. I know this team will give everything for the coat of arms and will represent Australia to the best of their ability in the true Aussie way.”