Penny Taylor and the Opals say only basketball gold will do after five Olympics of silver and bronze

PENNY Taylor has achieved almost everything you could in 18 years of professional basketball, including league titles in six countries. But there’s still one thing missing and it’s shiny, gold and round.

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PENNY Taylor has achieved almost everything in 18 years of professional basketball.

Two Olympic Games, a World Championship win, captaincy of the Opals and league titles in six different countries. Count ‘em, six: in Australia, in China, Turkey, Russia, Italy and three in the USA’s famous WNBA.

But then there’s that word: “almost”.

There is one missing prize in Taylor’s stellar trophy room. It’s gold in colour and they are earned once every four years at an Olympic Games.

Opals captain Penny Taylor hopes 2016 is finally the Olympics Australia wins gold.

The Opals have been so close, on so many occasions. The USA have won the last five gold medals and mostly beaten Australia to claim them. The Opals won silver in 2000, 2004 and 2008, and bronze in 1996 and 2012.

It is the kind of record that should put a fire in the belly of the Australian basketball team, and it does. But for Taylor it is also a sign of success, and a reminder of how much work must go into an Olympic campaign.

“I know that we have done everything possible and we will always have that (gold) as our goal,” Taylor said.

“We will always focus on that but it is also important to realise how well we have done to get there each time and how important it is to just to get the medal games. You can’t take that part for granted and just focus on the gold medal, or suddenly you are distracted and you don’t pay enough focus to a good team like a France or a Spain, or a Serbia.”

Penny Taylor in action on the court ahead of the Rio Olympic Games. Picture: Colleen Petch

Taylor doesn’t take anything for granted these days. The silver medallist from Athens and Beijing is not only nearing the tail end of her career but a four-year period awash with loss and heartache has put basketball firmly in perspective for the 35-year-old.

Taylor’s rough trot began when she blew an ACL just before the London Games while playing in Europe.

“It was pretty devastating, especially as I did it three months out from the Olympics so I had no hope of making it,” Taylor said.

“I found it really difficult to watch even. I feel like it is my team and I found it really hard not being able to contribute. I watched some. It got really hard at times.”

A 13-month rehab period (additional surgery was needed) had an upside; Taylor came off the road and home to Melbourne, where she was able to spend time with her sick mum Denna.

But she then suffered the cruel blow of losing her mum and her dad Michael, both to cancer, in quick succession.

“It has been a hard couple of years,” Taylor said.

“It’s a challenge. No-one goes through what I went through and doesn’t change so obviously it is a constant reminder of how important it is to enjoy the moment. You don’t get them back.

“Both my parents passing away in this last two years definitely put a lot of perspective into my sport, and I am just a bit more balanced now. I am able to enjoy the ride a bit more.”

Breaking a career-long habit of playing all year round (in all those countries), Taylor took a year off from the WNBA in 2015 to deal with her loss and recharge the batteries.

She returned to the Phoenix Mercury this season and though currently shaking off a hip injury niggle, Taylor joined the Opals pre-Games camp in the US ready to fire.

WNBA star and Opals captain Penny Taylor will be competing at her third Olympic Games in Rio. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Stopping to smell the roses a bit more has, in turn, got Taylor keener than ever to stop tasting silver on the dais.

“Just life in general I enjoy a lot more,” Taylor said. “I am not as stressed or anxious about anything. I just take it as it comes. Nothing really matters all that much.

“I am always going to be passionate about basketball and I am always going to put in the work. But I think I enjoy the highs and the lows of it all more. I have put more balance into my career. I played year round for about 15 years and that took its toll. I had a couple of years where I was really struggling.

“Now I am feeling really good. I am looking forward to this Olympics as much, if not more, than the others and I believe we have a terrific chance of doing really well. Can’t wait.”

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