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Hayden JohnsonState Political editor

Hayden Johnson is State Political editor for The Courier-Mail. He previously worked at The Australian, in Tasmania and regional Queensland.

Hayden Johnson

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QLD News

How Queensland is beating world in Tokyo

The Sunshine State is in the middle of a gold rush, with the number of Queenslanders – both native and adopted – winning more gold medals than France and South Korea.

Olympics

Australia's Dennis Rohan competes in the men's cycling road individual time trial during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Fuji International Speedway in Oyama, Japan, on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Greg Baker / AFP)

Australia secures its only dry land medal

A bold team decision has helped Rohan Dennis give a bit of limelight to Australia’s non-watersport athletes as veteran Ritchie Porte concedes his time at the top is coming to an end.

UpdatedOlympics

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 27: Silver medalist Kliment Kolesnikov of Team ROC, gold medalist Evgeny Rylov of Team ROC and bronze medalist Ryan Murphy of Team United States pose during the medal ceremony for the Men's 100m Backstroke Final on day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Russians’ medal celebrations soured by drug ban

After dominating in the pool and winning two medals, Russian swimmers have reacted to the drug ban that sees them competing in the Tokyo Olympics as ‘neutrals’.

Olympics

Australia's Ariarne Titmus (L) and USA's Kathleen Ledecky react after taking gold and silver respectively, in the final of the women's 400m freestyle swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP)

Titmus v Ledecky 2.0: Terminator facing US rival again

Ariarne Titmus will race for gold again where she is poised to face her great rival Katie Ledecky in the 200m freestyle final.

Olympics

McKeon’s muse for bold Olympic dream

Emma McKeon latest win in the pool has seen her edge closer to her dream of taking home seven medals, and another Aussie’s “incredible” swim has fired her up.

Olympics

Titmus’ rivals Thorpe, Perkins Olympic heroics

Katie Ledecky’s killer instinct has made her unstoppable in the pool — until Ariarne Titmus. Here’s how our newest golden girl dethroned the US champion.

Olympics

Brutal moment early celebration blunder hits star

Forget the smile, this will become the most heartbreaking photo of the Tokyo Olympics. Here’s why.

Olympics

Aussie swimmer David Morgan was left shattered after finishing last in his event.

‘I just died’: Shocked Aussie’s brutally sad interview

Devastated Aussie swimmer David Morgan said he felt as though he had dropped dead after finishing a distant last in his Tokyo debut.

Olympics

The peloton including Luke Durbridge from Australia races through the Fuji International Speedway during the Mens Road Race in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Pics Adam Head

Toughest day ever: cycling medal hopes melt away

Australia’s bid for its first medal of the Olympic Games has ended in shock and disappointment on a hot, hilly road in the shadow of Mount Fiji.

Olympics

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 28: A general view is seen during the FFA Cup Semi Final match between Hume City and Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on October 28, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Sydney, Melbourne poised to be big winners from 2032 games

Sydney and Melbourne will get a slice of the Olympic action in 2032 as the Brisbane games take in the eastern seaboard.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/journalists/hayden-johnson/page/194