Leisel announced as Blues Joint No.1 ticket holder

FOUR-TIME Olympian and swimming great Leisel Jones has been named as Carlton’s Joint No. 1 ticket holder along with tennis icon Dylan Alcott.

Jones, regarded as one of the greatest breaststroke swimmers of all time, became a Blues fan when based in Melbourne ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In a career spanning 12 years, Jones won nine Olympic medals – three of those gold – seven world titles, 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals, and 14 individual world records.

Carlton made the announcement on Friday and President Luke Sayers said: “To have an athlete of her calibre be involved with our club and support our professional athletes is very inspiring.”

Jones appeared in her first Olympics aged just 15 at Sydney 2000, and was awarded an Order for Australia for her service to sport in 2004, winning World Swimmer of the Year in 2005 and 2006.

In 2012, ahead of the London Olympics, Jones became the first Australian swimmer to compete at four Olympic games, where she won her ninth medal, a silver in the 4 x 100m medley relay.

Jones is now a host on Triple M’s The Rush Hour alongside Ben Dobbin and Liam Flanagan and has just been nominated for best new radio talent at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRA).

“I’m so thrilled to be named the Club’s Joint No.1 ticket holder,” Jones said on Friday.

“My Carlton journey started when I was living and training in Melbourne for the Beijing Olympics.

“I was living in Moonee Ponds and drove past IKON Park nearly every day and something just felt right. I love the area and love the Blues’ colours and have been passionately supporting Carlton ever since.

“I have some great memories supporting the Blues and I know the best ones are still ahead for us all.

“I’ll be shouting from the rooftops about our AFLW side as the season kicks off and can’t wait to watch the AFL team launch into September. I’m so proud to be a part of the journey.”