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Re-live the moments Australian women rocked the Rio Olympics

A YEAR on from the Olympic Games, SWOOP takes a look at the Australian women who rocked Rio.

Sydney welcomes home our Australian Olympians

A YEAR on from our Australian rugby sevens women winning their historic gold medal at the Olympic Games we take a look at the women who rocked Rio.

While Australian women have been punching well above their weight for years in terms of Olympic medals produced for their numbers, 2016 marked the first time there was gender parity in the Australian team. In the end 212 women represented Australia along with 207 men.

Australia won eight gold, 11 silver and 10 gold in Rio - well below the 35 secured in London four years earlier.

Australian women stole the show in Rio with six of our eight gold medals.
Australian women stole the show in Rio with six of our eight gold medals.

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But when it came to bling, our women rocked, winning six of our eight gold medals.

Here are some of the highs and big moments of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Winners are grinners. Our rugby sevens stars after they got the job done in Rio.
Winners are grinners. Our rugby sevens stars after they got the job done in Rio.

WOMEN RULE

Of the eight gold medals won by Australian athletes or teams in Rio, six were won by women. Swimmer Mack Horton and sailor Tom Burton were the only men to claim gold in Rio.

AUSSIE SURFERS RANK ABOVE RIVALS

S EVENS HEAVEN

They were the first team in history to win a rugby sevens gold medal.

Nicole Beck, Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Chloe Dalton, Gemma Etheridge, Ellia Green, Shannon Parry, Evania Pelite, Alicia Quirk, Emma Tonegato, Amy Turner, Sharni Williams created history with their win over the fancied New Zealanders in Rio.

Not bad for a team of players who four years earlier hadn’t even known each other.

BLUES DEBUT A BIG BLUR

How sweet it is. Catherine Skinner celebrates on the podium after winning gold in the trap event.
How sweet it is. Catherine Skinner celebrates on the podium after winning gold in the trap event.

FIRST OFF THE MARK

She was pretty much unknown outside her sport until the Olympics but shooter Catherine Skinner was our first individual medallist in Rio with her gold in the trap event. Her win was the fifth gold claimed by our shooters in the Olympic arena. .

Australia's Cate Campbell, Australia's Bronte Campbell, Australia's Brittany Elmslie and Australia's Emma Mckeon celebrate after they broke the world record to win the 4x100m Freestyle Relay gold.
Australia's Cate Campbell, Australia's Bronte Campbell, Australia's Brittany Elmslie and Australia's Emma Mckeon celebrate after they broke the world record to win the 4x100m Freestyle Relay gold.

The 4x100m freestyle team of Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon, Brittany Elmslie were the defending Olympic champs heading into Rio.

Anchored by Cate Campbell, these world record holders produced a cool and collect performance to defend this gold with a ripper win over the US.

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Kim Brennan came home with her gold late in Rio for rowing’s first gold in eight years.
Kim Brennan came home with her gold late in Rio for rowing’s first gold in eight years.

BRENNAN BREAKS DROUGHT

Kim Brennan picked up Australian rowing's first gold medal in eight years when she lived up to her pre-Games favouritism by claiming gold in the single sculls. She also carried the flag in the closing ceremony.

Australia's Chloe Esposito celebrates with her surprise gold medal.
Australia's Chloe Esposito celebrates with her surprise gold medal.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Our surprise packet. Even the commentators were shocked when Chloe Esposito seemed to come from nowhere to claim gold in the modern pentathlon. Her rise from seventh to first was one of the great comebacks - and moments - of the Games.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

The extraordinary tally of medals won by Anna Meares over four Olympics.

Meares won a bronze in Rio in the keirin which saw her medal at each of the four Games she contested.

her tally overall - two gold, one silver and three bronze from four Olympics.

Anna Meares carried the flag for Australia in Rio.
Anna Meares carried the flag for Australia in Rio.

SPECIAL MENTION TO OUR SILVER AND BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS

SILVER

Swimming: Women’s 200m butterfly, Madeline Groves

Swimming: Women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, Bronte Barratt, Tamsin Cook, Leah Neale, Emma McKeon

Swimming: Women’s 4x100m medley relay, Cate Campbell, Emily Seebohm, Emma McKeon, Taylor McKeown.

Sailing Nacra 17: Jason Waterhouse, Lisa Darmanin

Australia's supporters in Rio had plenty to cheer about.
Australia's supporters in Rio had plenty to cheer about.

Get your Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games tickets now at www.gc2018.com/tickets

BRONZE

Diving: Women’s synchronised, Anabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney

Swimming: Women’s 200m freestyle, Emma McKeon

Canoe/kayak: Women’s slalom, Jessica Fox

Track Cycling: keirin, Anna Meares

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/swoop/relive-the-moments-australian-women-rocked-the-rio-olympics/news-story/605df2d611ded88b5f5c0832259cc937