Women's lacrosse has been played in Australia since 1906. Now it's returning to the Olympic Games after an 80-year hiatus, and Australian players believe we're a medal chance. Longstanding Australian lacrosse representative Ashtyn Hiron said IT WAS a massive moment for the sport. "I never saw a world where the Olympics were achievable," Hiron said. "Now there's a road and path to Olympics, not only for me, but for a lot of young female lacrosse players." What will lacrosse at the Olympics look like? The more traditional "field" format won't be what's on display at the Olympics. Instead, the fast-paced "sixes" format will be played. Sixes is a compact version of the game played with six players on each team on a smaller field, featuring a 30-second shot clock and four 8-minute quarters, designed to be more accessible and appealing to a wider audience. Hiron, who was the most valuable player in last year's inaugural Major League Sixes, said it is comparable to Rugby 7s. Theo Kwas, another Australian representative who is currently an assistant coach at the University of Oregon, noted that even if you aren't a diehard lacrosse fan, the modified version is accessible, inviting and exhilarating. "It's almost like a simplified version of the sport and it's a faster pace, more exciting version," Kwas said. "So for someone turning on the TV watching lacrosse for the first time — someone that has no understanding of the rules — I think it's a lot easier to grasp." Hiron agreed that the decision to add sixes rather than field Lacrosse to the Olympic program was a sensible one. "You can be a lot more tricky and creative and fun, Hiron said. "There's a thousand opportunities to score goals, a thousand opportunities to make mistakes and to fix them. "It's a spectator sport, with lots of action and scoring." Silver on the Sunshine Coast In January on the Sunshine Coast, Japan continued its domination of the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Championship, claiming its sixth consecutive continental crown. However, it was also a monumental tournament for the Australian women's team, who lost to Japan in the final. Unbeaten on its way to the decider, the green and gold's fourth silver medal will see it enter the draw for next year's World Championships ranked fourth. With the 2028 Olympics now on the horizon, what's to come in the next few years could drastically lift women's lacrosse in Australia. For the athletes themselves, so many of whom live a double life working multiple jobs, a Games appearance would be the greatest recognition of their dedication and sacrifice to the sport. Hiron, who has represented Australia at two World Cups, said the Olympics inclusion added another level to the sport — particularly in Australia. "I think for so long lacrosse in Australia has gone under the radar and [it has been] really difficult to get recognised for the athlete," Hiron said. "We live and breathe and train as athletes that are playing for Australia. "Now we're recognised by the wider sporting landscape for the athletes we are." Kwas said it was a crucial time for lacrosse in Australia. "There's definitely this buzz and excitement around the sport and I think even though, you know, there's different versions and the field game that we played in this past tournament isn't what's going be in the Olympics … It's just like definitely growing and buzzing." The impact of Olympic inclusion has already been felt, with Lacrosse Australia noting a considerable increase in participation in the second half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Hiron has felt it too. "It's changed the conversation about how people think about lacrosse and legitimised it as a sport," she said. What are Australia's medal chances looking like? Although the Olympic qualification draw is yet to be announced, Australia's recent results in the format suggest it should be in the mix for a medal come 2028. Having claimed sixes bronze at the 2022 World Games, Kwas is optimistic about her country's chances in LA. "I think the Olympic format being 'sixes' instead of ten on a field, I think that to me that's really exciting 'cause it almost levels the playing field a little bit," Kwas said. "I think we have the ability to compete with the top teams in the world." This is promising given the North American dominance in the sport that largely stems from the strength of the US college system. Looking to the immediate future, Hiron knows just how important it is to continue building the profile of lacrosse in Australia. "I know the impact that exposure to high-level women's sport can have," Hiron said. "I hope that we're able to have media partnerships to allow for more eyes on us. "Get more kids involved and then grow our sport even further."