Opals dig in for bronze as fellow Australians add a silver lining to the golden Games

Australia didn’t add any gold to its record haul on the final weekend of competition, but the medals kept flowing right through to the closing ceremony.

Members of the Opals team celebrate after claiming bronze with a win over Belgium on Sunday night. Picture: Reuters

Australia broke its record for Olympic gold medals. Rachael Gunn broke the internet. Jessica Hull gave the weekend a silver lining before a swimmer and a sailor carried the flag at the closing ceremony. And to top it all off on the final day of competition, the Australian women took bronze in the basketball, with the Opals beating Belgium 85-78.

Hate to sound like a broken ­record, but what a shame these Games have to end. Australia was laughing like a kookaburra at third on the gold medal tally ahead of the final day of competition before dropping to fourth.

What an unlikely, unexpected and unthinkable accomplishment to be ahead of the mega-populated Olympic powerhouses of Japan, France and Great Britain.

Eighteen gold medals, at the time of writing, to be the most successful Australian team that ever slipped into a green and gold tracksuit. An Australian team that’s a bit rough around the edges. Like Australia itself? A hockey player was thrown in the clink for cocaine possession. Breakdancer Rachael Gunn fired a few blanks but like Eric The Eel at the Sydney Games, she was unashamedly average.

Kaylee McKeown and Matt Wearn.

The superstars produced truly elite performances. Swimmer Kaylee McKeown said hello sailor to the gold medal-winning Matt Wearn before their flag-carrying honours at Stade de France.

Watersports have been such a winner. Golds girt by sea. They might have set a record for breaking the most records. Which, for the record, brought chef de mission Anna Meares to tears. “I am so proud. Proud for them, proud of them, proud to be here with them,” she said when welling up during her post-Games speech.

Australia’s women’s water polo team took silver. Picture: Adam Head

No golds at the weekend but three silver linings. The Stingers were beaten 11-9 in the water polo final at La Defense Arena.

Matthew Richardson was second in the men’s track cycling keirin – his second silver after losing by a few thousands of a second to Dutchman Harrie Lavreysen in the sprint at Saint-Quentin-en-Yuelines.

Matthew Richardson celebrates winning silver. Picture: AAP

Silver medallist Jessica Hull. Picture: Getty Images

And Hull became Australia’s first women’s 1500m medallist at the track. She was second to Kenyan legend Faith Kipyegon after winding back the clock to her teens by letting her old man, Simon, coach her again.

“It’s just a different level of trust,” she said.

“A different bond. He was there when I first started the sport and he made it fun. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if I’d still be in the sport.

“He gave me room to grow all the time. He’s always encouraged me to dream, but it had to be me that wanted it. He taught me to ­absolutely love it.”

Hull added: “He’s pushed me to do things that are not in my comfort zone. Told me to try to go to college and that’s probably the best decision I made. I learned how to race, how to put myself in positions like this. I learned how to win.

“To share this with Dad is just so special. He deserves so much credit. I truly think he’s the best coach in the world.”

And so a unique, zany, colourful, mesmerising, madcap, picturesque, compelling, invigorating, intoxicating Olympics is over. It’s been the people’s Games.

The French have lapped it up. Fan engagement has been encouraged and delivered. Every house was full.

Every day had the let-your-hair down feel of a night at the Moulin Rouge. How can the Brisbane 2032 Games possibly match it? By not trying to, according to Meares.

“It’s not about matching,” she said. “It’s about showcasing our country, our culture. We have to deliver what we want to deliver.”