Dolphins draw on an iconic Aussie symbol for a further spark as the USA rivalry intensifies in the pool

The Dolphins have drawn on the iconic Australian story behind one of the nation’s most patriotic symbols, the boxing kangaroo to further drive their battle with the USA in the pool.

The Dolphins have adopted one of Australia’s most inspiring and patriotic symbols as they prepare to go into battle with the United States for Olympic supremacy.

While team officials have been publicly talking down their intense rivalry with the Americans, behind the scenes, the Australians have been secretly plotting to wage a war on water, with the aim of knocking the yanks off their pedestal in Paris.

But they know the Americans won’t give up without a bloody fight, so Australia’s master head coach Rohan Taylor has given his swimmers a history lesson to get them ready.

They have evoked the iconic Boxing Kangaroo flag - which was created for the 1983 America’s Cup yacht race - when Australia famously broke the longest winning streak in sporting history.

Against unimaginable odds, Australia II, skippered by John Bertrand, ended the New York Yacht Club’s 132 year domination of the America’s Cup, setting off a national celebration in Australia and utter despair in the US.

Triumphant skipper of the Australia II, John Bertrand is led Australia's win at the 1983 America's Cup, beating out the American yacht Liberty, breaking America’s 132 year domination.

It remains sport’s ultimate David and Goliath confrontation, and led to the Boxing Kangaroo flag becoming an unofficial emblem for Aussie pride.

“The boxing kangaroo is really something we’ve embraced,” Taylor said.

“We’ve done a lot of work on the history of the Boxing Kangaroo, because most of these kids wouldn’t know the story. They know it now. John Bertrand’s been fantastic in sharing his story.”

A former president of Swimming Australia, Bertrand featured in a special video about the origins of the Boxing Kangaroo flag that was shown to the Dolphins while they were holding one of their pre-staging camps in Chartres.

Aussie Dolphins drawing on the story behind the 'Boxing Kangaroo' flag for further inspiration in Paris. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

A Legend in the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame, Bertrand explained the origins of the flag and how it represents Australia’s fighting spirit and also how the licensing rights were later sold to the Australian Olympic Committee for $1 so it would be kept in safe hands.

It’s a short film that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up because it shows why Australians can do anything they set their hearts on.

The swimmers also heard from other Aussie legends - from Dawn Fraser to Jimmy Barnes - with Taylor saying he wants them to take the same never say die approach into the pool at Paris.

“We’ve done a lot about just embracing that,” he said. “And that’s about the fighting spirit showing up to your country.

“We want that to happen at the end of the meet. We’re in a position at the end of the meet to do some special things that will definitely be there.”

So far, so good.

So far so good for the Dolphins. Picture: Michael Klein

The Boxing Kangaroo flag is punching above its weight while the Stars and Stripes and floundering at the La Defense Arena.

On the first night of swimming finals, the Dolphins won medals in all four of the finals that were held - two golds for the women and two silver for the men.

That gave the Dolphins the early advantage but the battle has only begun.

“There’s a long way to go, it’s a nine day meet,” Taylor said.

“We’ve got a lot of big swims to come and we’re going to have those days that are a little bit slower, or let’s say that we won’t have our big hitters up for finals and we’ll get through those days.

“That’s pretty normal for us. Our goal is to be swimming our best at the end of the meet. Our goal every day is we’ve got to stay on form as best we can.”

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