Flying Kangaroo: Australia punching above its weight to break gold medal records in Paris
For a nation of 26 million, Australia has punched above its weight in Paris, breaking gold medal records to sit higher on the medal tally than anyone anticipated after day eight.
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LIKE the magical silver horse which galloped up the River Seine at the opening ceremony, Australia is simply flying.
For the first time in Olympic history Australia has won 12 Olympic gold medals in the first eight days of the Games, an achievement so stunning Chef de Mission Anna Meares is struggling to contain her emotions.
“I am battling to find daily emotional composure as I am sure all of Australia is too,’’ Meares said. “I am proud of every member of this team and even more proud to be in the thick of it with them.
“I have always said there are no guarantees at an Olympics so we have celebrated the medals won and rallied around those who have felt disappointed and reminded them we are there for them and show our immense pride in their effort as an Australian Olympian.’’ Our nation has rocked the Olympic medal table and been rightfully lauded as the shock mega-force of the Games.
At time of writing Australia is sitting in second place on the medal ladder where every relevant statistic insists it has no right to be.
China, with a population of 1.4 billion, is just one medal ahead of Australia (26 million) at the top of the table.
Peep over your shoulder and you can see Great Britain and the United States who, looking a bit like Donald Trump after a bad hair day, are trying to hunt us down.
Is this really happening?
From the moment ever-smiling cyclist Grace Brown snatched gold with a cavalier road ride the day after the opening ceremony there has been a fearless, “give me that medal’’ mantra among this team that is shocking rivals and pundits.
Many of the Australians luxuriated in watching Brown’s derring do – and her boundless joy – and it was almost as if she flicked a switch inside the entire Australian team and delivered the team’s Paris mantra.
Go hard. Go strong. Go now. This is your moment. Don’t die wondering.
Australia has 12 gold and seven silver medals – normally it’s the other way round. And it’s not as if they are sneaking home by a fingernail either.
The likes of Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown, Saya Sakakibara and Jess Fox didn’t just beat their opposition. In most cases they blew them away with strong body language and impeccable race management.
Chef de Missions don’t directly win gold medals but Meares, always the athlete’s athlete, has left her mark as a cool, strong decisive leader trusted by athletes and administrators alike.
The cycling great has been everywhere when it matters and there is no situation she has not related to – stunning success, shattering failure, pre-match nerves. She has been that person.
Meares has done well to appoint experienced deputies like former kayaker Ken Wallace and hockey great Mark Knowles who have also seen the Games from all angles and have a soothing presence among the athletes.
Women have carried the show and they have done so with Grace Brown-like bravado. Australia is deeply worried the explosion of professional sporting competitions for women in Australia will sabotage their Olympic campaigns leading into the Brisbane 2032 Games.
It hasn’t happened … at least not yet.
And it’s not as if this team is dripping with cash injections.
The Hockeyroos got paid $100 a week last year and $300 this year. They are glorified amateurs who play like professionals. It’s inspiring.
Australia is on fire – and so are the Games.
After an isolated Tokyo and a modest Rio in 2016, the Games, in all of their pulsating glory, are back to what they were and where they should be.
The IOC needed this Games to work and while it hasn’t been flawless, it’s been a rousing success.
The respected global Gracenote take pride in their medals predictions and when they tipped Australia to win 16 gold some felt it was overs.
The second week will be quieter but Australia has 12 already and more great moments lie ahead.
This is becoming a Games for the ages.
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Originally published as Flying Kangaroo: Australia punching above its weight to break gold medal records in Paris
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