Tokyo Olympics: Good sports and good at sport

Cedric Dubler of Australia with team mate and bronze medalist Ashley Moloney of Australia after the 1500m decathlon event. Picture: Getty

As the Tokyo Olympics reach their conclusion with a record haul of medals for Australia, there is further proof our athletes are good sports as well as good at sport. The selfless encouragement shown by Cedric Dubler to help fellow Brisbane athlete Ashley Moloney over the line for a bronze medal in the decathlon was a defining Olympic moment.

Moloney’s bronze was the first medal in an Olympic decathlon for Australia. A silver medal winning performance in beach volleyball by Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar delivered the nation’s most successful pairing since the Sydney Olympics. Sporting fans owe a deep debt of gratitude to the Tokyo Games organisers who were brave enough to push beyond the dark clouds of the pandemic. The result has been a reconfirmation of the resilience of the human spirit and a celebration of respect and camaraderie among competitions within teams and across sports and nations. The inclusion of novel events including BMX and skateboarding has brought a rush of adrenaline to competition, ensuring the Olympics remain relevant to a new generation of competitors and fans. Australia has shown itself to be at the front of the curve, winning gold medals on bikes and boards. The performance of our athletes is a credit to the nation and a good omen for what is to come as Brisbane prepares to keep the Olympic flame burning in 2032.