Stingers, denied by Spain, go out with heads held high

Hans van LeeuwenEurope correspondent

Aug 11, 2024 – 7.10am

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Paris | Not every Olympic story can have the perfect ending, and the tale of the giant-killing Australian women’s water polo team, the Stingers, ultimately had a bittersweet finale: a silver medal. But they’ll take that.

“We’re obviously a little disappointed. But I mean, a silver medal – getting us back on the podium – is huge. We’re so proud of that,” said veteran playmaker Bronte Halligan.

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.