LAYNE BEACHLEY LONDON BOUND WITH OLYMPIC TEAM

AOC, August 6: Seven-time World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley has been appointed as the fourth Athlete Liaison Officer (ALO) for the London 2012 Australian Olympic Team.

Beachley will provide support and guidance for individual athletes and teams by sharing her experiences from an illustrious sporting career.

She joins fellow sporting legends - five-time Olympic basketballer Andrew Gaze, World Cup winning Wallaby captain John Eales and former Australian Test cricket captain Steve Waugh on the AOL team.

Gaze is back on the team after carrying the flag into the Opening Ceremony in Sydney 10 years ago following a distinguished five-time Olympic playing career that started in Los Angeles in 1984.

Eales lines for his third stint in the role after attending Athens and Beijing and Waugh is back after making his ALO debut in Beijing.

Their aim is to help the athletes maintain focus and maximise performance with the assistance of the head coaches and team managers.

Beachley said it was an absolute honour and a privilege to be able to fulfil the role as an AOL.

"It was always a dream of mine to go to an Olympic Games and an Olympic gold medal is the only thing missing from my trophy cabinet," said Beachley.

"I am looking forward to being able to share my wealth of experience with the Olympians who have the dream of succeeding in their sport.

"One of my strengths throughout my career was my mental aptitude, an essential tool for anyone wanting to achieve a life-long goal.

"Coming from an individual sport, I will be able to provide an alternative approach to competition - share some of my knowledge on how to approach pressure situations and thrive on them.

"In surfing you are up against Mother Nature and that comes with an abundance of variables. To be the best you need to be able to adapt, change direction and plan ahead."

Beachley made her debut on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women's World Tour as a 16-year-old and climbed the rankings with determination and focus that would see her become one of Australia's greatest athletes and the most successful female surfer of all time.

Her first World Championship title came in 1998, and she would go on to win the next five years in a row, becoming the surfer with the greatest number of consecutive world titles, male or female.

Beachley's domination in women's surfing was not only a success for her personal sporting career, but it served to break down significant barriers in the profile of the sport, and inspire female athletes both in Australia and internationally.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is thrilled that Beachley has accepted the appointment and is sure she will make a positive and inspiring addition to the Team.

"I know Layne and she has always greatly impressed me as a person," AOC President John Coates said.

"Her commitment to being the best at her sport is second to none. She will be a very positive influence on our athletes as they strive to succeed in London."

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