Olympics: Steve Hooker, Brooke Hanson, spill on the ‘greatest party in Games history’

Steve Hooker and Brooke Hanson are etched in sporting history as Olympic gold medallists but memories of “the greatest party in Olympic history” are another common tie the pair shares.

A pair of Aussie gold medallists, an iconic Aussie singer and the greatest Olympic party of all time.

They’re both etched in sporting history as Olympic gold medallists but Steve Hooker and Brooke Hanson but memories of “the greatest party in Olympic history” are another common tie the pair shares.

It was Athens, the Olympic Village, 2004.

Pole vault prodigy Hooker had just turned 22 and was still four years away from becoming the first Australian male to win track and field gold in four decades (Beijing, 2008).

“It had the best party that’s ever been. It will go down as the greatest party in Olympic history,” Hooker said at this month’s South East Melbourne Phoenix business luncheon.

“You’d walk in and Evander Holyfield was standing there and then the American synchronised swimming team are doing the routine in the pool that’s in the middle of the nightclub.

“You’d have 100 tequila shots and they just lined them up on the bar.”

Evander Holyfield was among the many high profile guests at the Athens party.

Athletes were treated to a performance by Kylie Minogue.

Hanson, in 2004, was on top of the world, celebrating gold and silver triumphs in the pool.

“They had Kylie Minogue singing (at the party), they had topless waiters … the best champagne you’ve ever had, it was crazy,” Hanson said.

“I had two friends who had been backpacking around Europe for six months (living) on cans of baked beans and I was like ‘I’ve got a party for you to come to’.

Olympic gold medallists Steve Hooker and Brooke Hanson at the 2024 South East Melbourne Phoenix business luncheon. Picture: Phoenix Media/Kadek Thatcher

The Sydney-born swim star had a couple of good references — 4x100m medley gold and 100m breaststroke silver — which she flashed at security as she passed off her friends as trainers.

“They still say it’s the best party they’ve ever been to,” Hanson said.

The festivities left Hooker wondering “is this what they’re all like?”

Not quite, Steve.

“I met my wife (Russian track athlete Yekaterina Kostetskaya) at my second Olympics … and then, at my third Olympics, I was there with my wife, we were both competing,” he said.

“So I had three very different Olympic Games experiences.”

Originally published as Olympics: Steve Hooker, Brooke Hanson, spill on the ‘greatest party in Games history’