Australia’s third largest overseas Olympic team has been confirmed, boasting an unprecedented range of talent with medal potential.
The last 55 athletics selections from Monday completed the Paris team and increased its size to 460.
Only at the home Olympic Games in Sydney, London and Tokyo were larger Australian teams represented.
The Australians will compete in all sports except handball at the Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11.
A special feature of this Olympic team is the wide range of sports in which Australia has the potential to win medals.
In terms of medal distribution, the record is 20 medals at the home games in 2000 – but this time there are real chances of a podium place in at least 22 sports.
“One of the things that is quite relevant … is that we are quite successful and performing great across all areas and across many sports,” said team boss Anna Meares.
“The opportunity to translate this into Olympic medals is very exciting.”
Australia traditionally wins the most medals in swimming, athletics, cycling, rowing and sailing – the five most important sports in the country’s proud Olympic history.
But the biggest Australian story at the Paris Olympics is French-born Jessica Fox, who will defend her canoeing gold medal from Tokyo.
There are several strong medal contenders among the sailing and rowing teams, while weightlifting, boxing, equestrian, tennis, golf, basketball, hockey, rugby sevens, football and water polo all play important roles in Olympic predictions.
Australia won 17 gold medals in Tokyo, equalling the total in Athens 2004. The most medals were won in Sydney with 58 medals.
Meares, a two-time Olympic champion in track cycling, is making her debut as the team’s chef de mission and will hold a farewell press conference in Sydney on Wednesday.
AUSTRALIA’S OLYMPIC SPORTS TEAM IN PARIS
* 460 participants from 33 sports
* 255 men, 205 women, 231 debutants
* With 19 gold medalists from the Olympic Games in Tokyo and five from Rio