QUT biomedical science student and Australian women’s water polo star Alice Williams is coming home from Paris with a silver medal from the 2024 Olympic Games.
Alice (pictured above, fourth from left in bottom row) was an integral part of the Aussie Stingers’ amazing Olympics campaign, which saw them charge all the way through to Saturday's final against Spain and beat the USA in a penalty shoot out in their semi-final.
The Stingers were defeated by Spain 11-9 in the gold medal match at the Paris La Defense Arena, earning global respect and silver medals.
Alice also became the tournament’s most prolific goal scorer, with her five goals in the final taking her to an overall tally of 21 in her debut Olympics.
Alice praised her team-mates when asked about her achievement on national television.
“I score the goals that they all set up,” she told the Nine Network.
“It’s a huge accolade but also it goes to my team-mates as well – it’s a testament to their work ethic and their support in the pool.”
One of those team-mates is high school teacher Elle Armit – a QUT education and exercise science graduate.
Elle (pictured at top, far left of bottom row) made her debut with the Stingers in 2013 and has represented Australia at two Olympics.
The silver finish in Paris is the fourth Olympic medal for the Stingers. They won gold in Sydney in 2000, and back-to-back bronze medals in 2008 and 2012.
Alice is one of eight QUT students who have been in Paris to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
And with the Olympics now wrapped up, the focus will turn to the Paralympics which start on August 28.
QUT exercise physiology student Lewis Bishop will be part of the Australian team and will take to the pool in S9 swimming.
Like our other students in Paris, he is part of the university’s Elite Athlete Program. He is also one of this year’s recipients of the QUT Elite Sport Scholarships in Partnership with the Queensland Academy of Sport.
QUT’s Director of Sport, Emily Rosemond, said the university was incredibly proud of all its students in Paris, including silver-medallist Alice.
“This was Alice’s Olympic debut and to come away with a silver medal with the Stingers is an outstanding achievement,” she said.
“It’s a big challenge combining study and elite sport and we applaud all our students’ unwavering commitment and their success in being chosen to represent Australia.
“We’ve loved watching them give their all for the green and gold in Paris and we’ll get to do it all again in two weeks when the Paralympics start.”
Ms Rosemond said QUT aimed to make university study viable for athletes by supporting them through their studies in a holistic manner.
“We are really committed to supporting their best performances by allowing them to balance their training and studies, while at the pinnacle of their sporting careers,” she said.
QUT students competing at Paris 2024:
- Alice Williams (biomedical science) – water polo
- Lewis Bishop (exercise physiology) – S9 swimming
- Nick Sloman (urban development) – marathon swim
- Samuel Short (law) – 400m freestyle and possibly 1500m freestyle
- Saskia Broedelet (law) – rhythmic gymnastics
- Renee Taylor (law) – hockey
- Reece Holder (urban development) – 400m running
- Loane Russet (nutrition science) – 50m freestyle (Vanuatu team)
Photo at top: NANTERRE, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Silver medalists Australia pose following the Women’s Water Polo medal ceremony on day 15 of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena. Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images.
QUT Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon, media@qut.edu.au
- After hours, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
