OLYMPIC GAMES
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As the countdown to the 2016 Olympic Games ticks over the 12-month mark, more than a dozen Illawarra athletes are ramping up their preparations for Rio.
The opening ceremony to next year's event will be held on August 5, making Wednesday the one-year marker for all aspiring medal contenders.
A handful have already qualified, and the coming 12 months is all about staying injury-free while maintaining a strong training regime.
For others, only a few rare qualifying events lie between now and August 2016.
Wollongong's swimming "golden girl" Emma McKeon helped the Dolphins' 4x100m relay team book their place at the Games with a first placing at the world titles in Kazan, Russia, on Sunday.
But that doesn't mean she will be selected to represent the country in the same event in 12 months' time.
Her primary focus remains on individual success.
The 100-metre butterfly and 200-metre freestyle are where she wants to make her mark.
Older brother David McKeon got a taste of the Olympic arena when he travelled to London in 2012.
His pet event is the 400m freestyle and he would have been devastated with registering the 13th fastest time in his heats in Kazan, missing the final earlier this week.
The news has been much brighter for Australia - and the Illawarra - on the hockey fields.
Both the country's male and female squads have already booked themselves a ticket to the Olympic Games.
In the men's squad, star siblings Kieran and Blake Govers lead the charge, after Blake confirmed himself as one of the best up-and-coming hockey players in the world with a breakout campaign at the World League in June.
Tristan White and Flynn Ogilvie will be hoping to join their Illawarra mates in the squad heading to Brazil. Casey Sablowski, meantime, will be hoping her troublesome knees heal in time for her to help the Hockeyroos hunt for gold.
Sablowski was forced to return home to Australia early in May, cutting her season in Holland short, when her left knee became inflamed.
She posted a photo of herself on her Instagram account on Tuesday as she was about to undergo surgery on the joint.
"Going in for my pre-Olympic Games preparation service. Hopefully running like new again for a massive lead in to Rio 2016," the post read.
GOLDEN DREAMS
ILLAWARRA’S OLYMPIC HOPEFULS
Name Discipline Qualified
Kieran Govers Hockey Yes
Blake Govers Hockey Yes
Tristan White Hockey Yes
Flynn Ogilvie Hockey Yes
Casey Sablowski Hockey Yes
Aaron Royle Triathlon Yes
Ryan Bailie Triathlon No
Jacob Birtwhistle Triathlon No
Madeline Heiner Steeplechase No
Dave Smith K4 1000m kayak No
Ryan Gregson Distance running No
Emma McKeon Swimming Yes
David McKeon Swimming No
Emma Tonegato Rugby sevens Yes
Nicole Beck Rugby sevens Yes
Jarrod Poort Open water swimming No