Short and Sweet: Diamonds win, Hawaii ironman courage, Flames heartbreak and two farewells

WE’VE had wins, dreams realised, heartbreak and fond farewells for two young athletes who have done Australia proud in the Olympic arena. SHORT AND SWEET WRAP.

London Olympic silver medallist Brittany Broben has retired.

• Ironwoman's mystery pain
• Wanderers have 'great vibe'
• Constellation Cup: What you need to know
• Turia Pitt's incredible courage
• Bassets shines for Diamonds

WE’VE had wins, dreams realised, heartbreak and fond farewells for two young athletes.

The Diamonds started the Constellation Cup on a high note with their win over New Zealand in Sydney.

The Flames weren’t so lucky in their season opener but the signs for the future are positive.

Two athletes have decided to pull the pin and the Hawaii ironman saw numerous feats of courage from Aussie women.

All this and more in our Short and Sweet wrap of woman and sport.

Natalie Medhurst during Australia’s win over New Zealand in the opener of the Constellation Cup.

TURIA PITT REALISES DREAM

AFL WOMEN'S LEAGUE NABS SPONSOR

SEASON OVER FOR DEFENSIVE STAR

“It’s pretty shattering “ said Hayley Moffatt simply.

The Sydney Uni Flames player learned this week that just one game into the WNBL and it was season over for her.

Moffatt will undergo surgery on her knee after injuring it against Perth last weekend.

“It wasn’t the pain that alerted me to how bad it was. it just felt really weird,” she said.

While Moffatt will be hard to replace, there are high hopes for the Sydney Uni Flames after major changes in the off-season, smart scouting and a new coach.

The side fell just short of causing the first upset of the Year with their three point loss to the much-touted Perth Lynx on the weekend.

Next up for the Flames is the Canberra Capitals in Sydney on Sunday.

Diamonds Caitlin Bassett catches a pass during game 1 of the Constellation Cup between Australia and New Zealand at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park.

DIAMONDS SHINE

Caitlin Bassett put on a shooting masterclass as the Australian netball team posted a convincing first-up victory over New Zealand in the opener of the four-Test Constellation Cup.

Bassett shot 47 goals at 100 per in the match won by the Diamonds 68-56.

The Australians dominated all but the final quarter of the match played at the venue in Sydney where they win their world title last year.

TIME TRIAL MEDAL FOR AUSSIE

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WOMEN OF IRON

It wasn’t the result she wants but Australian Mirinda Carfrae still made history when she picked up her seventh Hawaii ironman role championship medal in Kona on Sunday.

The three-time finished second to Swiss triathlete Daniela Ryf in the gut-busting race described as one of the toughest in the world.

Mirinda Carfrae on the podium in Hawaii.

I’m her eight attempts on the race Carfrae has only failed to medal once — a year ago when she was forced to pull out with back injuries sustained when she was hit by a car three days before the start.

Burns survive Turia Pitt took more than five hours longer that Carfrae to complete the race but she couldn’t have been happier,

The burns survivor had used her dream of doing the punishing race as motivation during her recovery and rehabilitation for burns to 65 per cent of her body.

NEXT CHAPTER FOR MITCHELL

Two-time Olympian and Australia’s most decorated gymnast Lauren Mitchell has retired from gymnastics.

The 2010 world champion said she had been thinking about calling it quits for some time.

“I’ve made this decision because I know it is the right time for the next chapter in my life,” she said.

Champion gymnast Lauren Mitchell announcing her retirement

“I’ve given absolutely everything I have to gymnastics — I left it all out there on the floor and I have no regrets.”

Mitchell in 2010 became the first Australian to win three gold medals in a single World Cup event before going on to win four gold and a silver at the Commonwealth Games and a Floor world title.

BROBEN DIVES INTO LIFE

The baby of the London Olympic team has decided to ill the curtain down on her diving career.

Just 20, Brittany Broben has succumbed to an injury which kept her out of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympics.

Broben won a silver medal at the London Olympics when just 16 — a feat she considers the highlight of her career.

Brittany Broben after the London Olympics with sailor Olivia Price

“I will always be so proud of the fact that I am an Olympic silver medallist, and while I did not quite get to Rio, being selected in the team made me feel like a dual Olympian,” Broben said.

“After the challenges I had had since 2013, just getting to a place where I was diving well enough to be selected for Rio, was something I will always be proud of.

“But I really wanted to dive at my best in Rio, and sadly that was not ultimately possible”.

GARDNER STAYS PUT

Sydney Sixers star Ashleigh Gardner joins Emily Leyes in sticking with the side for the upcoming WBBL season.

“I had a great year last year with the Sixers but we feel like we have unfinished business and we hope we can go one better this season,” she said.

Originally published as Short and Sweet: Diamonds win, Hawaii ironman courage, Flames heartbreak and two farewells