Loretta Harrop achieved remarkable success in triathlon, earning an Olympic silver medal. Now, her daughter is making her own mark as the top-ranked junior in a different sport.
Harrop, originally from Brisbane, initially focused on swimming before embracing cycling and running, inspired by her brother Luke. They competed together internationally, and she participated in the 2000 home Olympics, securing fifth place.
Tragically, in 2002, Luke was killed in a hit-and-run accident during a training bike ride. This loss, compounded by the earlier loss of her mother to cancer when she was 18, fueled Harrop’s determination for the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Driven by her brother’s memory, she excelled in the triathlon, taking an early lead in the swim. However, Kate Allen surpassed her in the final stretch of the 10km run.
Despite missing gold, Harrop’s achievements were recognized with a house named after her at her former school. Her athletic family extends to her husband, Brad Jones, a talented Aussie Rules player, and their children, both accomplished tennis players.
While son Hayden reached the top junior ranks, it is Emerson Jones who is currently making waves in tennis. Born on the Gold Coast, Emerson, younger than Hayden, reached the finals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior tournaments in 2024. She achieved the world No. 1 junior ranking and claimed her first ITF Circuit title at the NSW Open.
Emerson Jones became the first Australian to reach junior world No. 1 since Jelena Dokic in 1998.
Jones’s all-court style has drawn comparisons to Ash Barty. She demonstrated her potential by defeating world No. 37 Xinyu Wang in Adelaide, entering the WTA top 300. This victory earned her a wildcard entry into the Australian Open, marking her senior Grand Slam debut. Despite a tough loss to Elena Rybakina, the experience at just 16 is expected to be invaluable.
Australian tennis enthusiasts are optimistic about Jones’s future and anticipate celebrating major victories in the years to come.
