Twenty-year-old Genevieve (Gen) Janse van Rensburg will make her Olympic debut in Paris, with her selection today by the Australian Olympic Committee.
Report ! M.Naveed
 |
The Newcastle local, currently in the UK preparing for the Paris Games, will become just the 26th Australian Modern Pentathlon Olympian, taking on swimming, riding, fencing and a combined laser shooting-run in Paris’ Château de Versailles.
Janse van Rensburg is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Olympic champion Chloe Esposito who inspired her to take up the sport in 2017, when Esposito attended Genevieve’s annual school sports awards night in the Hunter Valley.
From her first Modern Pentathlon competition in 2018 to an Olympic debut in 2024, Janse van Rensburg is the current Oceania champion and has even notched national titles in Fencing.
On top of training for five separate disciplines, the Novocastrian is also studying psychology at university.
Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares welcomed Gen to the Team.
“Congratulations Gen on making your first Australian Olympic Team,” Ms Meares said.
“Gen’s story of meeting Olympian Chloe Esposito at her school sports awards in 2017 to becoming an Olympian in 2024 highlights the power of the Olympic movement to inspire young Australians.
“I’m sure Gen will be the inspiration for other young Australians to try a new sport and chase their own passion.
“So many people contribute to an athlete’s journey to the Olympics, thank you to Modern Pentathlon Australia, the coaches, friends and family who are sharing in Gen’s Olympic achievement today.”
Janse van Rensburg us currently finalising her Olympic preparations in Europe.
“Making the Olympic Team is a dream come true and I am so honoured to be getting this opportunity to represent my country at an Olympic Games,” she said.
“I started modern pentathlon in 2018, after the 2016 Olympic gold medallist Chloe Esposito came to my school. I remember listening to her talk about her experiences in the sport and thinking I want to do that. I already did 3 of the sports I started fencing in 2017 and then took up shooting in 2018.
“Modern Pentathlon is a very unique sport as you’re training for five very different disciplines and I think that is what makes it so exciting, everyday is different challenge.
“It has been a labour of love and a huge commitment from many to support me over the last 7 years. I have had so much unwavering support and commitment from my family to pursue this left of centre sport, which has taken me all over the world.”
President of Modern Pentathlon Australia Maki Takken was thrilled to see Gen selected for Paris 2024.
“Congratulations to Gen on her selection to the Australian Olympic Team,” she said.
“Mastering Pentathlon’s five diverse disciplines to an Olympic level of excellence requires courage, dedication, single-mindedness and sacrifice. It also requires expert guidance and unstinting support from family, friends and coaches, and our congratulations extend to them as well.
“Gen has withstood a rigorous qualification process to achieve selection and we look forward to seeing her take on the world in Paris!”
