Whole Olympic experience is a bit surreal for our star Opals forward

PLAYING for the Australian Opals at an Olympic Games is a surreal feeling for star forward Cayla George.

Turkey centre Nevriye Yilmaz (11) shoots over Australia forward Cayla George during the first half of a women's basketball game at the Youth Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

PLAYING for the Australian Opals at an Olympic Games is a surreal feeling for star forward Cayla George.

Not just because she is representing her country at the world’s biggest sporting event but also because is learning from one of the best ever in Opals skipper Penny Taylor.

Taylor led by her actions for the Opals after helping Australia rediscover top form in their last game against France after struggling for consistency in their two opening wins over Brazil and Turkey.

Now the Opals look like securing top spot in Group A with a win over Japan tomorrow morning and George, a former Kedron State School student, said she was savouring every minute of playing with the Phoenix Mercury WNBA superstar

“Playing and learning from one of the game’s best players to ever play the game will be something I will never forget,” George said.

“She is also one of the nicest people I have ever met.

“I’m trying to soak in every moment of the Olympics as it’s going so quickly. I have great teammates around me which make this special time even more amazing.”

George, who has been a star for the Townsville Flames in the WNBL, said the Opals were just focused on their next challenge against Japan tomorrow morning at 6.45am (AEST).

“We have certainly improved over the last three games and will continue to look forward but yes the France game was a great win for us,” she said.

“We showed signs of how we want to play

“We as a group are staying focused on the next game against Japan. It’s a process and to win this next game would mean we would most likely finish top of the pool.”

With the Opals and Boomers both performing well, George said there was a good mood in Rio at the moment.

“It is an exciting time for Aussie basketball.”