By Nick Wright
Two of Australia’s latest Olympic legends are refusing to announce a swan song, declaring they harbour desires to fight on until the Brisbane 2032 Games.
Matt Denny and Cameron McEvoy were among the Australian competitors to achieve greatness in Paris, helping to forge the nation’s most successful campaign in Olympic history.
As they arrived home in Queensland to a group of family, friends and supporters, the pair were already fixated on their next challenge – and even looking eight years down the track.
Cameron McEvoy believes he can fight on to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.Credit: Getty Images
McEvoy, who at age 30 claimed his first Olympic gold medal in the 50-metre freestyle, would be 38 for the Brisbane Games. But he believes his reduced training load could help him stay competitive for Los Angeles 2028 and beyond, especially amid speculation more sprint events will be added to the Olympic schedule.
“Maybe I’ll add the 50-metre butterfly as well,” McEvoy said. “We’ll see.”
For Denny, who avenged his fourth-place finish in Tokyo to claim the bronze medal in discus, there is no time to rest. He immediately headed from Brisbane Airport to training in preparation for his return to competition in Europe.
Denny will take some time to bask in the glow with his family before heading home to Allora, 180 kilometres west of the Gold Coast, to celebrate becoming the first Australian man to stand on the podium in the event.
From there, however, the 28-year-old will relaunch his season with the Rome Diamond League on August 30, before taking on the competition’s September finals in Brussels – all part of his mission to one day secure gold.
“I’m aiming for another two Games,” Denny said. “My ultimate goal is to make Brissy ’32. If I can do that, which would be five [Games], currently no one else has done it in Australian athletics.
“That’s the big goal for me, but we’ve got a lot more to do and a lot more to prove. I think we still had a lot more to give in Paris, and to walk away wanting, I think is a good thing for me – especially over the next couple of years.
“For the athletics team, I think we’re in a great space where everyone is lifting the standard consistently.
“We’re getting more medals, but we’re all getting off the plane not just wanting to wear the tracksuit. We’re wanting to compete and hold that standard, and I think a lot of the Europeans are thinking, ‘the Aussies are off the plane now, watch out’.
“I’ve still got a job to do.”
Having heard rumours of a “decent street party” planned for Allora, his trip home will nonetheless be scheduled around training.
But he wants the celebrations to fuel a broader movement.
Matt Denny competes in the men’s discus final in Paris.Credit: AP
“I hope this is the start of … me not being the first and last [medal winner], especially in the throws for men’s disc,” Denny said.
“To be able to get a lot of videos and photos of kids out in the backyard painting sectors and circles and having a throw, that’s what it’s all about.
“Obviously, high performance is great, and you want to win medals and meet KPIs and everything else, but I think as a team, everyone is very good at representing their story, what they’ve done, where they’ve come from, and everything that comes behind that.
“There’s a lot more meaning than just performance.”