Riverina families will be on the edge of their seats over the next two weeks as these five local loved ones compete for Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Dylan Martin
The hockey player's campaign is already underway with two wins from two games in the pool round.
This is Dylan Martin's first Olympic Games, and mother Leslie Martin said he is one of the athletes for whom the delayed start date due to COVID-19 worked in their favour.
She said the family could not be more proud and excited, watching on from their home in Wagga Wagga.
Watch him play next on Tuesday morning when the Kookaburras take on Argentina.
Sharni Williams
The rugby 7s co-captain from Batlow will be seeking back-to-back Olympic gold when she leads the team onto the field for the first pool game on Thursday morning.
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Sharni Williams' grandmother, Margaret Ward, can not contain her feelings.
"I'm her number one fan, she's just been such a wonderful girl," Ms Ward said.
Mother Gayle Williams said the Rio gold medallist loved playing all sports when she was growing up, but not rugby union.
"Well I wouldn't let her play when she was little, and she still reminds me of that," she said.
"I was just scared she'd get hurt, but look at her now."
James Willett
The Mulwala local was always a good chance of making the Games whether it was held in 2020 or 2021, but COVID-19 restrictions also worked in his favour as he was already building a world-class shooting facility on the family farm.
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MOther Dionne Willett said the trap shooter had done a lot of hard work to get there.
"He does train really hard and he's out here when it's 50 degrees and we're all sitting inside in the air conditioner. He is just so passionate about it and he loves it," she said.
While the former world number one had done a lot of hard work, it was a family effort.
James Willett starts his Tokyo Olympics campaign with the men's trap event on Wednesday morning.
Dylan Pietsch
The rugby union player from Leeton has been in the Australian men's rugby 7s program since 2018 and is now off to his first Olympics.
The teams first pool game is Monday morning.
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Father Troy Pietsch said he has "tenacity".
"I think as a young child he's always been that kid that really wanted to achieve," he said.
Cheering Dylan on will be a family affair.
"Very proud that he has made the Olympics and is doing a good job," said younger sister Willow Piestch.
"We'll be cheering when he gets the ball, and a try hopefully," younger sister Minhi Pietsch added.
Andrew Hoy
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Hailing from Culcairn, equestrian rider and three-time gold medallist Andrew Hoy is off to his eighth Olympics, an achievement only a small group of athletes have equalled.
In a statement released by Equestrian Australia, Mr Hoy said he never set out to break records.
"I am just a country boy from Culcairn who loves his horses, has a huge passion for our sport, and thrives on being competitive," he said.
Former fellow local rider Matt Crosbie remembers the early years at Zone 20 Pony Club.
"Andrew was quit an intellectual rider, he didn't just plateau," Mr Crosbie said.
Mr Crosbie remembers how Andrew Hoy came back to ride at a show jumping clinic.
"After the event, one of the trainers asked me 'who is this Andrew bloke?' I said 'he's a cocky's son from Culcairn, he's hopeless isn't he? He's got no idea'.'"
"A few years later he won Burghley [the prestigious world equestrian event in the UK]."
Riverina families ready to cheer on local Olympians about to compete in Tokyo - ABC News
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