When 23-year-old Jacqueline Nichele competes in the Olympic weightlifting competition on 10 August, the students and staff of her former primary school have promised to be watching the event – even if it is at 3am.
For the community at southwest Sydney’s Blairmont Public school in Campbelltown, the anticipation of watching a former student reach the pinnacle of her chosen sport in the Olympic Games has seen her former teachers decorate the school in green and gold.
“I remember her loving her sport… (she was) competitive, loved her gymnastics,” says Nichele’s year five teacher Jeremy Collins.
“We are just overwhelmed with pride…we can’t be prouder,” Principal Melanie Macmillan says.
Australia first competed in weightlifting at the 1948 London Olympics. Four years later at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Vern Barberis won a bronze medal in the lightweight category.
It took 32 years for Australia to win their next weightlifting medal at the Olympics. Dean Lukin won the gold medal as a super heavyweight and Robert Kabbas clinched the silver in the light heavyweight division at Los Angeles 1984.
Australia’s fourth weightlifting medal, a bronze, came at Atlanta 1996 through Stefan Botev in the super heavyweight category. Five Australian weightlifters were selected for Tokyo 2020 but could not win a medal. Weightlifting at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from August 7 to 11.
From school canteen volunteer to proud mum in Paris
The close connection between Nichele’s family and school continues, with Nichele’ mum Kathy still running the school canteen in the lead-up to boarding her first-ever overseas flight to watch her daughter compete.
“We’re super proud, it’s all overwhelming…[we’re just] a humble little family from Campbelltown,” she says.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and this is just surreal that this is happening to our family.”
In other schools across New South Wales, the efforts of a range of athletes competing in the Paris Olympics are also being celebrated, including Olympic debutants, Clare Wheeler (Hunter Sports High School) and Ky Willott (Belmont Public School and Belmont High School), fellow public school alumni and Matildas’ player Emily van Egmond (Warners Bay and Whitebridge high schools), Hockeyroo Mariah Williams (Hunter Sports High School) and men’s water polo co-captain Nathan Power (New Lambton Public School and Merewether High School).
Schools go green and gold on 2 August
Schools across Australia are encouraged to go green and gold on Friday 2 August in support of the nation’s Olympians.
NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar says more than 50 former NSW public school students are flying the flag at the 2024 Olympic Games, making up a sizeable chunk of the 460-strong Australian team.
“We are incredibly proud of our students and alumni who have achieved the extraordinary honour of qualifying for the Paris Olympics,” he says.
“This remarkable achievement is a result of years of hard work and dedication, but also unwavering support and encouragement from their public schools, teachers, coaches, and families.”
Championing public school success stories
The success of NSW public school students at the Olympics dates back to the 1900 Paris Games, when former Sydney Boys High School student and national sprint champion Stan Rowley became the first Australian-born competitor and medallist.
One of just two Australians participating in France, Rowley picked up bronze medals in the 60m, 100m and 200m races, before joining the English in a 5000m teams race, where they won gold.
A long line of excellence from former NSW public school students at the Games has followed, including swimmers Ian Thorpe (East Hills Boys High School) and Dawn Fraser (Leichhardt Home Science School) and sprinters Betty Cuthbert (Parramatta Home Science School) and Marjorie Jackson (Lithgow High School), who are among our greatest-ever Olympians.
The establishment of sports high schools, starting with Westfields Sports High School at Fairfield West in 1991, has led to further success, with nearly 50 students representing Australia at Olympic and Paralympic level.
Sports high schools nurture future Olympians
There are now eight government sports high schools across NSW, balancing the needs of emerging athletes with a first-class education.
Their influence is exemplified by the Matildas, with sports high schools providing five members of the 2024 Olympics squad, while a further four players also attended a NSW public high school.
A close relationship with the Australian Olympic Committee was further strengthened after sports high schools became official Olympic pathway schools in 2023.
“NSW public schools have a long-standing tradition of excellence, and these athletes exemplify the best of what our education system can produce,” says Dizdar.
“As we prepare to honour our NSW public school alumni in Public Education Week (5-9 August), their journey to the Paris Olympics serves as an inspiration to all current students, reminding them that with passion and commitment, anything is possible.”
The 2024 Olympic Games conclude on 11 August. The 2024 Paralympic Games run from 28 August to 11 September.
