Parents of Aussie golden girl Meg Harris just proud as punch

Meg Harris sparked celebrations in Brisbane and at the Eimeo Beach surf club. Find out what her parents thought of Australia’s new swimming golden girl.

Angela and Darren Harris, parents of Meg Harris, celebrate their daughter’s gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The parents of Australia’s latest Olympic gold medallist Meg Harris draped an Australian flag across their Brisbane home in celebration of their daughter’s Olympic Games golden moment.

Darren and Angela Harris celebrated with friends after their daughter, a 19-year-old former Mackay nipper, helped the Aussie Dolphins to a world record 4x100m freestyle swimming effort on day two of the Tokyo Games. She swam the second leg around Bronte and Cate Campbell and Emma McKeon.

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Mt St Michael’s College alumni Meg Harris, Bronte Campbell and Emma McKeon celebrate Australia’s world record win in the 4x100m women’s freestyle relay. Picture: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

“We are just proud of the way she performed when she needed to do it. She went in second and she came out first. She just performed,’’ Mr Harris said.

“She has the confidence she can do it.’’

Harris’ team mate at St Peters Western Swim Club, schoolgirl Mollie O’Callaghan, who helped position Australia in pole position with a dynamic heat swim on day 1, will also receive a gold medal.

“Both have grown up a lot in the last six to 12 months,’’ Mr Harris said.

Mum Angela said the Eimeo Beach surf club, where Meg was once a nipper, also held an Olympic party yesterday to watch the swimming.

There also would have been pride within the Mackay Swimming Academy where Meg swam as a junior.

Meg Harris and Bronte Campbell. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

Mr Harris said both his daughter and O’Callaghan, who swam a fabulous heat race, delivered when it counted which was a great trait to possess.

He said his daughter Meg, a Mt St Michael’s College alumni, felt for O’Callaghan and her room mate, Maddie Wilson, who both missed the final four contesting the gold medal event despite impressive heat swims, but was pleased they would also be recognised with a gold medal.