21 July 2008
A second Victoria University student has received the phone call of her life telling her to start packing for Beijing after she was selected for the Australian badminton team.
Erin Carroll, 22, was named to the six-person Australian Olympic badminton team to compete in the women's singles event, after a reallocation of quota places by the World Badminton Federation.
The third-year Bachelor of Applied Science student in Physical Education at VU's Footscray Park Campus, will join VU student, Tania Luiz, 24, who was previously named to the team as a women's doubles' partner.
Erin, who is ranked 100th in the world, will make her first Olympic appearance in China, a country where badminton is the national sport.
She said: "Everyone I am playing against will be ranked higher than me, so I have nothing to lose - I'm just really excited and feel very privileged to be going."
The St Kilda resident thought competing in the Commonwealth Games in 2006 - where she made it to Round 32 was her proudest sporting moment - until now.
Her next goal is to win a medal in the ladies singles' event in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
She said: "My game is quick, I'm a runner and I love a good, long rally."
Erin started playing badminton in her hometown of Ballarat at age 12. It wasn't long before she was representing Ballarat as a junior, and by age 14, representing Victoria. She competed in the World Junior Badminton Championships in South Africa at age 16. Erin continues to compete on international circuits, devoting up to 25 hours a week training at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, studying full-time at VU, and working part-time as a badminton coach with national junior programs.
She said: "I love all sports. I played footy, cricket, netball, soccer and did ballet."
Sports are a family affair in the Carroll clan. Her father Rob, commutes every day from Ballarat in his role as director of the specialist sports school, Maribyrnong College. Both her sisters and mother also play badminton.
Erin is now counting down the days before she has the chance to compete against the world's best in China, a country she visited once before on excursion as a Year 8 student.
She said: "Australia is not really a badminton nation yet - but the sport is now a lot more popular than ever before.
A jpeg photograph of Erin Carroll in competition is available. She is also available for interview until the end of July.
Media Contact: Ann Marie Angebrandt, Media Officer
Marketing and Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 5487
