The AIS has injected almost $640,000 into Softball Australia's Olympic future as the team prepares to return to the Games for the first time since 2008.
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But the sport will have to wait at least seven years after Tokyo before they grace the Olympics diamond once more after being turfed from Paris 2024 in favour of break dancing earlier this week.
It's expected softball will return to the Olympics schedule in Los Angeles in 2028, given its much higher profile in the United States, but being removed from Paris is still a major blow for Australian softball which has won a medal at every Games it has contested.
For 30-year-old star pitcher Kaia Parnaby, a veteran of 149 national caps, it means the Tokyo Games will most likely be her only chance to represent Australia at an Olympics.
"I already knew there was the potential softball wasn't going to be in the Olympics - as a country France isn't known for softball so it's understanding that it wouldn't be one of their first sports that they push for," Parnaby said.
"It hurts me because I'm nearing the end of my career so it would've been nice to maybe see out another four year cycle but I completely understand where the decision came from.
"If your sport gets the chance to participate in the Olympic Games, you jump on it, you're just going to be happy, so I'm very happy for them [break dancing]."
Parnaby still has blisters on her feet from jogging around her hotel room, due to two weeks of quarantine since returning from Japan in mid-November where she plays professionally.
"Most days I tried run at least five [kilometres] in there, one time I got to about eight - I found other things to do in there, skipping, I did some yoga to pass time," Parnaby said.
She is in Canberra this weekend as part of a pitchers and catchers training camp at the Hawker International Softball Centre. The AIS will hold a 34-strong camp in February and March next year from which Australia's Tokyo softball team will be selected.
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After debuting for Australia in 2009, Parnaby has waited more than a decade to finally represent her country at an Olympics.
"I didn't know what to expect back then I didn't even expect I'd be able to play in the Olympics Games," Parnaby said.
"To be here 12 years later talking about Tokyo is pretty surreal. Considering a pitcher's lifespan if you keep your body intact, doesn't usually travel past your 30s too often."
The AIS softball funding is part of $35m worth of investment by the AIS in Australian sport over the next two years.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
