Australia need to stop whingeing and focus on the job ahead at the Rio Olympics

AUSTRALIA has won their first gold medal of the Olympic Games and the opening ceremony is still three days away. We are the Olympic champions for whingeing.

And the gold medal goes to.....

AUSTRALIA has won their first gold medal of the Olympic Games and the opening ceremony is still three days away. We are the Olympic champions for whingeing.

Forget the Poms or the Yanks, it is green and gold all the way.

If it’s not Kitty Chiller complaining about leaking taps and unsatisfactory living conditions, it’s John Coates slamming the Olympic village conditions as “extraordinary.”

All we’ve heard since Australians hit the ground in Rio is problems here, issues there, transvestites attacking TV crews, bags going missing, bombs going off at the stadium (which was a test only) and traffic is at a standstill.

Brazil is in the middle of a political and economic crisis, there are far bigger issues at play in this country than a few leaky taps.

Besides, if it’s that bad in Rio, go home.

The competition can’t start soon enough so the world’s media have something to write about because right now the only thing that is getting blown up is Australia’s international reputation as a nation that rolls with the punches and says “she’ll be right mate.”

No matter the odds, no matter the adversity, no matter if you don’t get sleep because the fire alarm goes off all night or if you don’t feel safe walking down the street.

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You are here to compete, you’re here to work, do your job and stop complaining.

There are thousands of Australians back home who’d very happily swap places with you right now if you’re not comfortable being here.

Because come Saturday, all the excuses get thrown out the window. When you hit that start line nothing else matters but the performance you put on the board.

And if your head is filled with thoughts of everything that is wrong, then chances are nothing will go right.

Four years ago Australia endured their worst Olympics since 1992 and the behaviour of the swim team was thrust into the spotlight in a dramatic aftermath full of investigations.

But if there’s one team keeping their mouths shut and their eyes on the prize it is the Dolphins. Not even the threat of racing Russian drug cheats or predictions of enormous gold medal hauls has deterred the Dolphins from getting ready to race.

They have the most to lose and the most to gain here in Rio. Perform well and show respect, Australia will love them once again. If everything falls apart, like it did in London, they could fall to the point of no return.

For them it’s all about control what you can control.

You can’t control your bags turning up at the airport, the same as you can’t make the traffic go faster, or queues move quicker.

Things may not be running as smoothly as some might hope but it’s how you cope with the challenges that will define your performance.

Originally published as Australia need to stop whingeing and focus on the job ahead at the Rio Olympics