Tokyo Olympics 2021: Most watched Australian events

Before capturing our hearts, they captured our attention. These are the incredible numbers behind our most watched Olympic athletes.

They’re the athletes who captured our hearts during the Olympic Games, with millions tuning in to watch Australian gold rain down in Tokyo.

The Flying Mullet Rohan Browning, inspirational 800m star Peter Bol, the Kookaburras and their silver medal and the Matilda’s fightback against the United States were just what Australia needed to get through lockdown.

More than 3.1 million people watched 23-year-old law student Browning’s 100m semi-final on August 9. Our world record breaking 4x100m freestyle gold medallist – swimmers Bronte and Cate Campbell, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon – also pulled in more than 2.5 million viewers despite happening in the morning, well outside prime time.

More than 3.1 million people watched 23-year-old law student Rohan Browning’s 100m semi-final. Picture: Getty Images

And broadcaster Seven recorded an increase in viewer numbers in the second week – something that hasn’t happened in the previous three Olympics – as a new generation of Australian track stars kept Aussies glued to their TVs after the golden first week of swimming.

Veteran broadcaster Bruce McAvaney said the Games were “in terms of performances … arguably the most memorable Olympics of my lifetime on foreign soil.

Peter Bol captured Australian hearts. Picture: Getty Images

“We’ve seen the emergence of a new group of champions,’’ he said.

“There are some standout performances that seem to have struck a chord with us all.

“I can still see the second fastest man in history, Yohan Blake, looking puzzled as Australian Rohan Browning passed him in the 100m heat.

“We were captured by the ability and personality of Peter Bol in the 800m and we’ll follow him as he continues his trajectory.

BELOW: THE MOST WATCHED AUSTRALIAN EVENTS

Ariarne Titmus won gold in the pool. Picture: Getty Images

“We held our breath as Brandon Starc arched over the bar for the best height recorded by an Australian at any Olympic Games – and then celebrated with the joint gold-medal winners. It was such a joyous moment and these Games have been full of those.’’

Controversy over whether the Games should go ahead at all, and the banning of spectators from all venues in Tokyo failed to damper TV audience enthusiasm for the Games, with the low-key opening ceremony attracting 3.85 million viewers, making it Australia’s most-watched TV show of 2021.

Swimming superstar Emma McKeon won a stunning seven medals in Tokyo. Picture: Adam Head

Our Kookaburras grabbed silver. Picture: Adam Head

Seven’s figures show 19.95 million people had tuned in since the start of the Games. In the first 14 days, the average full-day broadcast audience was up 67 per cent nationally, and 76 per cent in the capital cities, compared to the Rio Games in 2016.

On July 25, a massive day in the pool including the Australian 4x100m freestyle world record, 7Plus delivered the biggest day of streaming in Australian television history with viewers streaming 363 million minutes of Olympic action. The previous record was 86 million on July 14 for a State of Origin game.

Logan Martin won gold in the BMX Freestyle. Picture: Getty Images

Sam Kerr consolidated her reputation as arguably the world’s best player. Picture: Adam Head

With more than 15 million Australians now in lockdown, McAvaney said the nation was looking for a lift, and a story to follow along with.

“It started for me with the long-anticipated showdown between Ariarne Titmus and Katie Ledecky and, towards the end of these 16 days, Ash Moloney’s bronze medal in the Decathlon, thanks in no small part to his mate, Cedric Dubler. ‘Doing a Dubler’ has become an Australianism, much like ‘doing a Bradbury’’ he said of the injured Dubler’s efforts in getting an exhausted Moloney over the line in the final 1500m event.

“In many ways these Games have reignited an appreciation of the Olympic Games. What a run up we now have to Brisbane 2032.’’

RANK	DATE	DAY	PROGRAM	EVENT CATEGORY	UNIT, NATIONAL FIGURES
1	August 1	9	Athletics	Men’s 100m semi-final (Rohan Browning),	3,106,148
2	August 4	12	Athletics	Men’s 800m final (Peter Bol) 4th,	3,048,079
3	August 1	9	Athletics	Women’s 100m hurdles Heat	3,025,708
4	August 1	9	Athletics	Men’s 800m semi final	3,011,052
5	August 1	9	Athletics	Men’s high jump final	3,007,866
6	August 5	13	Hockey	Men’s Final with Australian silver medal win	2,978,910
7	August 4	12	Athletics	Women’s 3000m steeplechase final	2,797,220
8	August 4	12	Athletics	men’s decathlon heat	2,679,768
9	August 1	9	Athletics	Men’s 400m hurdles semi-final	2,662,996
10	July 31	8	Athletics	men’s 100m heat	2,586,623
11	July 25	2	Swimming	Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay final (Australian gold)	2,575,999
12	August 4	12	Athletics	Women’s 400m semi-final	2,549,807
13	July 25	2	Swimming	Women’s 400m freestyle heat	2,539,120
14	August 1	9	Swimming	Men’s 4 x 100m medley relay final	2,538,153
15	July 31	8	Athletics	Men’s discus throw final	2,455,543
16	July 25	2	Canoe slalom	Women’s kayak heat	2,447,241
17	July 25	2	Swimming	Women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay medals	2,432,439
18	August 4	12	Athletics	Women’s 1500m semi-final	2,403,758
19	August 2	10	Football	Women’s semi-final	2,393,753
20	July 25	2	Swimming	Men’s 4x100m freestyle relay heat	2,366,088
21	August 1	9	Swimming	Women’s 4x100m medley relay final	2,364,256
22	July 31	8	Swimming	Mixed 4x100m medley relay final with Australian bronze medal win	2,360,459
23	August 1	9	Swimming	Women’s 50m freestyle with Australian medal	2,358,003
24	July 25	2	Swimming	Women’s 100m breaststroke heat	2,352,989
25	August 1	9	BMX freestyle	Men’s park final, Logan Martin gold medal	2,350,465

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics 2021: Most watched Australian events