Paris 2024: The ‘punch to the mouth’ that set up the nation’s most unlikely Olympic medal tilt

Australia’s 3x3 basketball team defied all the odds to reach the Paris Games, yet the adversity they faced may have just set the Gangarrus up perfectly for the most unlikely of Olympic medals.

Australia’s 3x3 coach Damon Lowery describes it as the “punch to the mouth” that set up the nation’s most unlikely Olympic medal tilt.

When Australia lost to the Netherlands in the opening game of the only Olympic qualifying tournament available to them, their margin for error was officially zero.

Only an unbeaten charge through the entire Japan qualifying tournament would open up the door to Paris.

Already a lack of funding had painted them into the tightest corner available.

As Lowery said of that impossible dream forced upon Australia given their lack of funding ruled out attending earlier qualifying tournaments: “Because of the way FIBA works with their ranking points, the first three teams that qualified were based on ranking points. So France, China and USA had the most”.

“Automatic in. Five tickets left. The countries who don’t have a five-on-five representation had their own tournament so that’s four tickets left.

“Our tournament was for all the zone cup winners. So the Europe Cup, the Africa Cup, we are the Asia Cup winner. So out of those winners, only one ticket. So we had one chance. “And like I always say, all you ever ask for in life is a chance.”

But after that overtime loss to the Netherlands that chance was gurgling down the drain.

Australia defied the odds to make it to Paris? Picture: Getty Images

“So we took that chance and we got punched in the mouth. Game one in overtime against the Netherlands, which forced us to respond,” said Lowery.

“And we had a nice little get-together, a truth session if you will. And I said, “Our back’s against the wall now. And I like backs to the wall because you are forced to respond.”

Australia’s four 3x3 players would peel off those four wins, including twin victories over a previously dominant Canadian side that included an epic finals victory.

As 3x3 team member Anneli Maley said of the response after that jarring loss: “It was the best thing that ever happened for us. It was kind of, “Here is what you need to fix. If you don’t fix it, go home. If you don’t fix this, you are not going to the Olympics.

“That was so important to our success, to be called out for things and hold each other accountable. It was the best thing to ever happen to us. Sometimes you get more out of losing.”

That team of Maley, her teammate and fiance Marena Whittle, Lauren Mansfield and Alex Wilson will arrive in Paris as legitimate medal prospects.

They will play all seven rivals in pool play at the Concorde Urban Park in Paris, with the first two qualifiers straight into the semi-finals before teams ranked 3-6 play off the for the final two spots.

Can the Gangarrus leave Paris with an unlikely medal? Picture: Getty Images

As much as they have honed their 3x3 expertise while also playing five on five basketball, Lowery loves the fact they found their way to this form of basketball the hard way.

“Every one of them has been overlooked. Anneli did play in an Asian Cup with the Opals. Lauren Mansfield was in an Opals squad and got hurt. Alice played for Australia in the youth tournament but she never got a look in. And Marina is a walking bucket, as they say, but she never got a look in,” he said.

“So in a way it’s easy for me because I don’t have to worry about the girls thinking, “Oh, I really want to make the Opals. With the exposure we are getting and the success we are having, girls are wanting to play this. So maybe the time will come when some girls will have a choice between the Opals and Gangarrus and take the Gangarrus.”

Originally published as Paris 2024: The ‘punch to the mouth’ that set up the nation’s most unlikely Olympic medal tilt