It’s been heavy going in the lead-up to the Rio Olympic Games, with the supposedly apolitical games being used as a pretext to shove politics down our throats. So it is with delight that we can leave this behind for another post, and celebrate the excellent start our Aussie athletes have given our country in the pool and on the archery field.
It all started when strapping young lads Taylor Worth, Alec Potts and Ryan Tyack won their bronze medal shoot-off to win Australia’s first medal at the Rio Olympics. Not long after, gentle giant Mack Horton won gold in the men’s 400 metre freestyle, and the women’s 4×100 metre freestyle relay team of Bronte Campbell, Cate Campbell, Emma McKeon and Brittany Elmslie won their final in world record time.
It has been thrilling to see Australia’s best succeed, and even when they don’t, to do their best. It has been just as thrilling to see the pure joy they display in victory, and their humility and typical Aussie humour when under the media spotlight. And it is just tops to see Australia’s youth giving such a good account of themselves on the world stage, and singing their nation’s anthem with gusto on the podium.
After the Australian Olympic team had a bit of a dip at London in 2012, it was important that we had a good start, as momentum is everything, and the confidence from early medals can quickly spread throughout the team. We could very well post an Aussie Legends of the Week segment every night for the next fortnight, but for getting the ball rolling in Rio, we’ll just award it to the magnificent eight.
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