By
Andrew Stackpool
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Olympic
softball representative Corporal Tracey Mosley in action.
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‘I
would like to thank Air Force, and particularly my boss,
for giving me the chance to fulfill my Olympic ambition
– they have been terrific.’
CPL TRACEY MOSLEY
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Corporal
Tracey Mosley from Defence Science and Technology Organisation
at RAAF Base Edinburgh was supposed to be part of the Air Force
contingent going to the Arafura Games but something came up.
She has been selected to represent Australia in softball at the
Athens Olympic Games.
The Australian Olympic Committee announced her selection on May
4 as one of six changes to the team that won bronze at the 2002
Sydney Olympics.
A catcher/short stop, CPL Mosley has had a long, hard road to
Athens. She has played softball since she was at school.
“I saw the sport, liked the look of it and thought I’d give it
a try,” she said. “I liked it and stayed on.”
In 1991 she was selected to play for Australia in the Junior World
Series in Adelaide.
She lost her place in the Australian team after the 1994 world
championships and spent seven years on the sideline before she
was finally selected back into the team in 2002.
CPL Mosley joined the Air Force in 1996 and since then has been
based at Edinburgh.
“I play for a local civilian team there. I have been asked to
play for Air Force but their schedule clashed with my civil one.
“I was to go to the Arafura Games with Air Force but then was
told I’d been selected for the Olympics. I couldn’t believe it.”
Although based in South Australia, she paid for her flights to
Brisbane to train with the team. The team began full-time training
in Brisbane in late May and will fly to the US and Canada for
more training and a number of tournaments against local teams.
From there the team continues on to Italy for 10 days before finally arriving at the Olympic village in Athens. Its first competition
is on August 15.
“I haven’t seen the facilities but I have seen pictures and have
been told they are the best in the world. I’m really looking forward
to being there,” CPL Mosley said.
“I’m over the moon - it’s pure excitement.
“I would like to thank Air Force, and particularly my boss, for
giving me the chance to fulfimy Olympic ambition - they have
been terrific.”
She believes the Australian team is capable of improving on the
bronze medal performances at the past two Olympics.
“The team has a good feel about it and we’re all excited about
the prospect of our getting a silver - or higher,” she said.
The team returns to Australia in September. Asked about her plans
after the Games, CPL Mosley said, “I haven’t the faintest idea,
how can you top going for gold?”
