Noise, pressure and humility: Australia’s epic night in the pool

Hans van LeeuwenEurope correspondent

Updated Jul 28, 2024 – 10.45am, first published at 5.36am

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Paris | If breaking a world record, or becoming Australia’s most decorated Olympian, requires anything, it’s surely iron self-belief.

But when two of the Australian swimming teams’ golden girls were asked how they felt on Saturday night (Sunday AEST), after each climbed onto the winner’s podium once again at the Paris 2024 Olympics, they gave the same answer: “I just can’t believe it”.

Hans van Leeuwen covers British and European politics, economics and business from London. He has worked as a reporter, editor and policy adviser in Sydney, Canberra, Hanoi and London.