Anna Meares brought to tears during inspiring address to Australian teammates in Rio

AUSTRALIAN team captain Anna Meares admitted she couldn’t hold back tears as she told her teammates they would not be failures representing their country in Rio.

Australian flag bearer Anna Meares at the official flag raising ceremony in the Athlete's Village. Picture: Phil Hillyard

AUSTRALIAN team captain Anna Meares admitted she couldn’t hold back tears as she told her teammates they would not be failures representing their country in Rio.

Meares’ speech to 300 of her Australian teammates was followed by the official flag-raising ceremony at the Rio athletes village.

The dual Olympic gold medallist wept as she recounted her own personal journey, at 32 still feeling like the coalminer’s daughter from outback Queensland.

The veteran of three Olympics will carry Australia’s flag into the Maracana Stadium on Saturday (AEST) in what she describes as a career highlight.

Only 146 Australians of the 400-plus team are expected to march but Meares believes it will even top her gold medals from 2004 and 2012.

She counselled her fellow athletes to believe that if they did not achieve their Rio goals they were still successes in her eyes.

“I was pretty much sharing where I have come from and why I am still here and why I think it’s important as Australian athletes and the fact we are striving for something great,’’ she said.

“No one can find fault or disappointment in us being here trying to be better than we have been.

“For me I love what I do and I am still here because I love wearing the green and gold. I get a rare few days to put on those colours and represent my country, I am still chasing those dreams and I was just a little girl growing up in country Queensland. That will never leave me.”

Asked what had brought her to tears, she said: “That line, that very line. That was the thing for me, a little perspective about what it means for me to be an Australian athlete.”

Anna Meares is still that little girl from outback Queensland. Picture: Getty Images

Australian governor-general Peter Cosgrove told the athletes 24 million Australians were supporting their Olympic endeavours back home.

“Anna Meares, Australia’s team captain, gave a brilliant address and showed she is not only a champion of her sport but a fine leader,’’ he said.

“I think this team is ready to go. The athletes are in good shape, they look a million bucks and they are ready to perform. This team is about to step up to produce a wonderful result.”

Australia’s flag bearer has customarily been announced at this event but Meares was chosen weeks ago in a bid to minimise the distraction to her.

She had two days to prepare her speech to her teammates but admitted a computer failure saw her lose it temporarily before recovering her poise.

Australian boxer Shelley Watts said Meares had inspired every member of the team.

“Having someone you can look up to as a role model and then to say what she said in there, it was phenomenal,” Watts said.

“I was sitting next to Jess Fox and there was a little tear there.

“You know it hits home when it’s someone like Anna who has been there and done that. You just want to get out and compete.”

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Originally published as Anna Meares brought to tears during inspiring address to Australian teammates in Rio