Brydens Sydney Uni Flames forward Kathryn Rendell is off to London, but not to visit the Queen – on this occasion.
Rendell, 20, has been called up by Great Britain women’s basketball head coach Peter Buckle to play in the second qualification round of EuroBasket Women 2015, with the aim of earning a berth at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Eurobasket Women is a qualifying tournament for the FIBA World Championships and for the Olympic Games.
Rendell’s father is from Bristol and her grandma and other relatives still live in England. “I was born in Warrington and we moved to Australia when I was just 18 months old,” she said of her qualification to represent her country of birth.
One of the two Vice-Chancellor’s Elite Athlete Program Sports Scholarship holders for 2014, Rendell came to Sydney University last year to undertake a Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical)-Commerce degree and to join the Sydney Uni Flames roster
A Canberra junior, Rendell made her WNBL debut with the AIS in season 2009-10, before moving to the Canberra Capitals and then to Sydney University last year.
Flames coach Karen Dalton gave the 188cm forward/centre some court time during the 2013-24 season.
“Kathryn is an extremely hard worker,” Dalton said. “We are really looking forward to seeing how much we can develop her over the coming season.”
Rendell said she received a late call-up from coach Buckle to represent Great Britain at Eurobasket. “I have to admit it was completely overwhelming at first when I was told about it,” the Women’s College resident said. “I was really excited because opportunities like this don’t come along for everybody.”
She said EuroBasket Women was the start of the pathway towards the 2016 Olympics. “I think for everyone involved, that remains the ultimate goal,” she said.
Rendell has been involved in all of Great Britain’s four preparation games and is part of the squad in Moscow where they face Russia in the final warm-ups before the qualification phase for EuroBasket Women begins.
While advancing with Great Britain is one aim, the other is to establish herself with the Flames in the WNBL during 2014-15.
“The goal for next season is to work on my game and to try to get even more minutes with the Flames,” she said.
