Allora athlete Matthew Denny’s admirable efforts at Tokyo 2020 Olympics win new fans nationwide

The Allora discus athlete missed out on becoming an Olympic medallist by mere centimetres, but the narrow loss didn’t stop him from capturing the eyes and hearts of sports fans across Australia.

Allora-born athlete Matthew Denny has done his community and country proud on the world’s biggest sporting stage, coming achingly close to becoming the small Southern Downs town’s first Olympic medallist.

The 25-year-old placed fourth in the men’s discus final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Saturday with a throw of 67.02m, just 5cm behind bronze medal winner Lukas Weißhaidinger from Austria.

Denny’s throw wasn’t just a personal best, but beat the record he’d set only the day before in the qualifying round for the best discus performance by an Australian at any Olympic Games.

After boarding the plane back home to Australia without the medal he’d set out for, Denny said he already had the Paris 2024 Olympics in his sights.

“I truly live for moments like these and the memories they create. I just want to say that I honestly can’t believe the support I received from you, Australia,” Denny wrote on social media.

“You make me proud to wear these colours and you make me love what I do even more. I’m glad I was able to bring some entertainment to your households.

“Cannot thank the beautiful Mia Cunningham (partner) enough for being everything to me … to my amazing coach Ben and to every part of Team Denny, you make me who I am when I stand in that ring!”

Athletics - Olympics: Day 8

Forced to watch her son compete from the other side of the world due to Covid travel bans, proud mother Karen Denny had to send her well wishes online as well.

“You have made us so proud. ‘Dare to dream’! Good luck champ,” she wrote.

Denny’s Olympic efforts won the respect and congratulations of hundreds of Australians, with the athlete labelled an inspiration to budding sports stars right across the nation.

“Congratulations on a job well done. Australia is proud of you, especially that little town in Queensland called Allora,” resident Sue Clark wrote.

“I loved watching you Matt! And then I loved watching you support your housemate (highjumper Brandon) Starc from the stands! You are an inspiration and I hope my kid grows up to be an athlete like you,” Arjun Karnik added.

“A PB a week before then smashed that again on the night … who does that? You don’t need a medal to say who you are or how far you threw – you are a champion,” Wendy Brown said.

Denny qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in June after a difficult 12 months battling through Covid’s impact on sport and a rib injury.

He represented the Southern Downs community alongside Warwick rower Harriet Hudson, who brought home bronze in the women’s quad sculls last week.