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Tribute to Michelle Jenneke

I recognise and congratulate Dural resident Michelle Jenneke, better known as Shelly, for making the Australian track and field team for hurdles in the upcoming Olympics in Rio. Shelly's journey to the Olympic stage started when she was 10 when she began training at the Cherrybrook Little Athletics Club. Since then she has gone from strength to strength, competing in a number of competitions, including the Australian Junior Championships, the Youth Olympics, the Australian Championships as well as the World Junior Championships where her pre-race warm-up dance went viral, receiving 19 million views. In 2014, Shelly was selected to be part of the Australian Commonwealth Games team where she came fifth in the hurdle finals.

At the Australian Athletics finals in 2015, Michelle became the second fastest 100 metre female hurdler in Australian history, after Sally Pearson. However, her spot on the Australian Olympic team was secured when she came first in the 100 metre hurdles final at the 2016 Australian Athletics Championships. I congratulate Shelly on making the Olympic team and recognise her achievements in her journey to the Olympic team. I am sure that Shelly will do our country proud. All Hornsby residents will be cheering her from the sidelines.

To read the Hansard transcript click here.