Lydia Williams will contest a second Olympics after being named in an 18-strong Matildas squad for the Tokyo Games.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The former Canberra United goalkeeper was part of the team unveiled on Wednesday, alongside ex-teammate Ellie Carpenter. Chelsea superstar Sam Kerr has been named captain of the squad.
Kerr, along with Williams and Carpenter, was part of the Matildas side that made it to the quarter-finals at the 2016 Rio Olympic games, before losing to hosts Brazil. Six players will be making their Olympics debut for the Matildas in Tokyo.
"Any time I pull on the jumper, I feel really proud, but to call yourself an Olympian is something special," Kerr said.
"Not many people get to do it so I'm really proud to be an Olympian and to represent Australia.
"It's different to say, a World Cup, just for the fact that it is the Olympics. It's a little bit prestigious, it's just overwhelming.
"I grew up watching the Olympics like everyone else so to be here, for my second time, is a dream come true.
"The Matildas are a really, really exciting team. We're fast, we're strong, we're fit, and I feel like the rest of the world knows that about us.
"It's really about using our strengths to the best of our abilities. Off the field what people don't see is we're a really close-knit family. We all have each other's back and we can't wait to go and represent Australia."
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said whittling the squad down to 18 had been a challenge.
"I want to thank every single player out there that fought to get a spot, and they've done it so that I had a difficult decision to make," Gustavsson said.
"That's how it should be for a head coach and that's also how we get better.
"It's a team and a roster that is very attacking balanced, but also with a lot of versatility. There's a lot of players in this roster that can play multiple positions with which is exactly what you need in an Olympic tournament."
The Matildas qualified for the Olympics back in March 2020, punching their ticket to Tokyo by beating Vietnam 2-1 in Quang Ninh just as the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting the world.
They open their Olympics campaign on July 21 when they take on New Zealand. They will also play Rio silver medalists and world number five Sweden, and finish off the group stage against reigning gold medal winners and world champions, team USA.
"The Matildas have shown they are a world class team," Australia's Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman said.
