Two Redfern locals are part of a 13-member women’s national youth 3-on-3 ice hockey team that will represent Australia at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea.
Annika Schmitz and Elin Schmitz, are set to join the WYOG tournament scheduled to take place from 20 to 25 Jan 2024. Notably, this selection marks a significant milestone as it is the first all-Australian ice hockey team to compete at a WYOG.
Annika, 15, started her journey at 9 years old. Today, she stands as a key member of the Arctic Foxes women’s team. Inspired by strong female athletes like her first ice hockey coach, who represented Australia, and Matilda’s captain Sam Kerr, Annika is determined to pave the way for women in sport.
Elin, 14, fell in love with the sport at 7 years old, when a new rink opened near her home. She joined the Ice Zoo Wolves and quickly embraced the speed, skills, and teamwork required in the game. In 2022, Elin made her international debut, representing Australia at the One Hockey International Peewee Tournament.
Unprecedented Opportunity for Australian Youth
Annika and Elin are two of the pioneers of what is expected to be a 53-member Australian team, set to compete against 1,900 youth athletes from 70 countries during WYOG. This event is a unique opportunity for young Australian winter athletes to challenge themselves on a global stage and gain invaluable experiences as they represent their nation in Gangwon.
Australian Chef de Mission and Vancouver 2010 Olympian, Ramone Cooper, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the selected athletes.
“As the first Australian ice hockey team to be selected for a Winter Youth Olympic Games, this is a fantastic achievement, and I have no doubt these young athletes will do an incredible job representing their country in Gangwon,” Ramone Cooper, the Australian Chef de Mission and Vancouver 2010 Olympian, said.
General Manager of Ice Hockey Australia, Adam Woolnough, expressed the immense pride felt by the ice hockey community in Australia for reaching this milestone. He highlighted the collective effort of coaches, volunteers, and players, both past and present, in achieving this remarkable accomplishment.
Mr Woolnough is confident that the selected team will represent Australia with pride and humility, creating lifelong memories in the process.
Published 4-Jan-2024