Tokyo Olympics 2021: Australia’s medal hopefuls and the thrilling moments that you can’t miss

Yes, Australia’s swimmers will do well in Tokyo, but Bruce McAvaney is confident our success won’t be confined to the pool, with a number of other medal chances taking his eye.

This is the sporting world’s grand final. It’s precious.

It’s precious in the sense that, for some athletes, it will be their legacy and they’ll only get one shot at it.

I think that for all of us, the wait has only increased our sense of anticipation as we head into the Tokyo Olympics.

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Cate Campbell, one of Australia’s Flag Bearers. Picture: Getty Images

The history and stature of the event is what puts it above every other sporting competition and the stories of triumphs and tragedies are equally extraordinary.

You have these incredible victories that go beyond the medal winners.

I’m thinking about Eric Moussambani, Eric the Eel, at the Sydney Olympics, for example, and the American Abbey D’Agostino and New Zealander Nikki Hamblin who helped each other in the 5000m at the last Olympics in 2016.

None of them medallists but their performances have become legendary.

And the stirring victories that mean so much to small nations – Fiji winning its first gold in the first rugby sevens event in Rio. Our Australia women also took home gold from those same Games.

FIVE BIG MEDAL TIPS

I think the safest bet for gold is the women’s 4x100 freestyle. The Australian trials were run concurrently with the US trials and our fastest four women were quicker than their best.

I’m confident they can win a medal for the third time in a row and Cate Campbell has been a member of the two previous teams.

It’s on the first day of competition. It’s the one that will get us going.

Cate Campbell will return for a third time to the 4x100 freestyle. Picture: Getty Images

Ariarne Titmus in the 200m freestyle. She can upset the colossus of world swimming, Katie Ledecky in both the 200m and 400m freestyle. I believe Ariarne will leave Tokyo as a major Australian sporting star.

Kaylee McKeown. This is one of the heartfelt stories of the trials. She lost her father last year. He desperately hung on to watch her compete but has passed away. She broke down at the trials talking about it. Kaylee is a relative newcomer but already made her mark with that world record in the 100m backstroke at the trials in Adelaide. I think she will emerge from her first Olympics as a multiple gold medallist.

Logan Martin. In BMX freestyle, he holds the top ranking. It’s one of the attractions of these Games in Tokyo, one of the new sports. So, Logan could go from obscurity to a household name in this new BMX freestyle event.

Australian men’s hockey team. The Kookaburras are also ranked No. 1 in the world and have been perennial contenders but had disappointment in Rio. Their gold medal in Athens in 2004 broke a frustrating run and I think that once again they’re poised to win gold. They are our best hope among the teams.

FIVE BIG MOMENTS

I’m staying with swimming, but why not.

Kyle Chalmers is in a strong position to win this blue ribbon event. He’s hoping to do what no other Australian male has done: win the 100m freestyle at two consecutive Olympics. Although he faces the new Michael Phelps of the American team, Caeleb Dressel, Chalmers is the ultimate racer. At the time of the Tokyo team announcement (July 5), Kyle was the only Australian who will be defending his individual gold medal from Rio.

Kyle Chalmers is looking to be the first ever Australian to go back-to-back in the 100m freestyle. Picture Delly Carr.

Jess Fox won the K1 silver in London and bronze in Rio. They have added the C1 to the program and she has traditionally been better at this, so she has two dips here.

Emma McKeon. Her dad Ron swam at two Olympics in 1980 and 1984, and her brother David in 2012 and 2016. She has already achieved a lot – a gold, two silver and a bronze in Rio. The big story is she will probably swim seven events. The Australian record by any Olympics is nine medals of any colour – both Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones – and Emma has a shot at being the first to get to double figures.

Andrew Hoy, the triple Olympic gold medallist, creates history as the first Australian to go to an eighth Olympics – at age 62. Look at what he has achieved – flag bearer in 1996, gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000. His battle for a medal will be highly anticipated.

Surfing has never featured at an Olympics before. We have household names with an opportunity to do something they have never done before. Steph Gilmore is a seven‑time world champion, and we also have Sally Fitzgibbons, Owen Wright and Julian Wilson. Gilmore, in particular, is a legend – getting to do something she could never have dreamed about five years ago.