Qld fifth on Tokyo medal tally as state’s athletes dominate in pool

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.

Queensland sits fifth on the world Olympic medal tally as Sunshine State athletes dominate Australia’s medal haul by winning more gold than global superpowers France and South Korea.

Eight of Australia’s 10 gold medals have been won by native or adopted Queenslanders with our female swimmers leading the way.

All of the seven gold medals won at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre were by sunshine state athletes – which would put Queensland fifth on the Olympic Games medal tally equal with Great Britain and ahead of South Korea, Netherlands and France.

Queensland athletes have won a staggering 17 of Australia’s 26 medals with less than one week to go in Tokyo.

Kaylee McKeown and Emily Seebohm celebrate in the pool at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. (Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Warm weather and world-class beaches have, for decades, meant the national swim team has been dominated by athletes from the sunshine state.

However, like Gympie in 1867, Queensland is again in the midst of a gold rush with our swimmers – led by Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon and Kaylee McKeown – dominating in the pool.

Notably, every member of Australia’s world record-breaking women’s relay team who blasted their competitors out of the pool on Monday lives in or was born in Queensland.

Almost 63 per cent of Australia’s 35-person swim squad hails from the sunshine state.

Titmus, whose family relocated from Tasmania to Queensland in 2015, mustered the never-say-die spirit of her adopted state to beat American world champion Katie Ledecky for gold in the 200m and 400m freestyle.

McKeown, raised in Redcliffe and now living on the Sunshine Coast, won gold in both the 100m and 200m backstroke finals.

Queensland “underdog” Zac Stubblety-Cook set a new Olympic record on his way to winning gold in the 200m breaststroke on Thursday.

Stubblety-Cook, 22, said he lived the usual Queensland childhood and learnt to swim at a young age for safety.

“I used to hate the pool and hate the water, I used to get scared of the deep end … but I’m definitely past that now,” he laughed.

Brisbane’s Zac Stubblety-Cook set for action in the Men's 4x100m Medley Relay at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Picture: Adam Head

After growing up in Wollongong McKeon, a rising star of swimming who won gold in the 100m freestyle on Friday, relocated to the Gold Coast.

Outside of the pool Alexander Purnell, a member of Australia’s gold-medal winning men’s four rowing team, was born in Brisbane but now resides in Sydney.

Queensland Olympic Council President Natalie Cook said the state’s weather could be credited with producing the nation’s best athletes.

“I think it’s definitely the climate, it’s just so good,” she said.

“It warrants people getting outside and physical activity.“

Cook tipped Australia’s Tokyo 2020 medal haul would grow larger after a “fantastic start” in the water.

“History shows if the pool kicks off with a bang it puts a good mood in the camp,” she said.

“If you get off to a good start the momentum carries you through.”

Women’s beach volleyballers Taliqua Clancy, a Kingaroy prodigy, and Mariafo Artacho del Solar, who relocated to Queensland last year, are considered strong medal hopefuls.

Cook said there was a magic in Queensland with the spirit of the Games taking hold.

“There’s a new spring in the step in Brisbane after the announcement last week,” she said.

“We’re officially an Olympic city and everyone is thinking about how they can be a part of this.”