It’s always a sad feeling when the two weeks of Olympic action comes to an end, but thankfully there are plenty of great Australian moments from these Tokyo Olympic Games to look back over and enjoy.
While there were many wondering why the Olympics were going ahead during a global pandemic, it’s impossible to argue they didn’t have a positive impact around the world in such a testing time.
The Olympics provided hours of entertainment for those millions of Aussies who were stuck in lockdown, and they had plenty to cheer about given how well our team performed on the biggest stage and how likeable so many of our athletes came across.
These Games have gone down as one of our most successful campaigns ever with 17 gold, 7 silver and 22 bronze medals and there were many amazing moments from our Australian team so let’s have a look at some of the best.
Jess Fox bouncing back to win her elusive gold medal
It was an emotional roller coaster just watching Fox’s Olympic campaign so it’s hard to imagine just how she was feeling throughout the few days of the Canoe slalom events.
She came into these Olympics desperate for a gold medal to compliment her silver and bronze already under her belt from the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and she looked a class above her rivals in the early stages of the K1 competition.
However, one slight touch on the second last gate in the final relegated her to the bronze medal and the entire country shared in her pain.
She only had a couple of days to regroup and get ready for the C1 event and while it would have been a difficult time for her, Fox certainly didn’t let it show.
She once again went into the final as the fastest qualifier and this time put together a flawless run to smash the competition to finally become Australia’s golden girl.
The look of joy and relief on her face as she knew she had gold was one of the best images of the Games and there would’ve been plenty of Aussies watching with a tear in her eye.
It was also great to hear her dad in commentary be so calm as she won until eventually, he couldn’t hold the emotion back anymore.
Titmus vs Ledecky and that iconic celebration
There was plenty of hype around the up-and-coming Aussie Titmus going up against the greatest female swimmer in Ledecky heading into these Games and the first contest certainly didn’t disappoint.
With Ledecky building a solid lead with 100m to swim, the one they call ‘The Terminator’ started to hunt her down.
Titmus came with a huge rush late to claim gold and send all Aussies into hysterics, including her coach.
Dean Boxall became an instant sensation for his outrageous reaction to her win.
While some were criticising him for stealing some shine from Titmus’ achievement, his celebration was clearly just a pure outburst of raw emotion and something that should be celebrated.
Titmus also came out on top as the pair met in the 200m final, winning her second gold as Ledecky finished outside of the medals.
Ledecky did however beat Titmus in the 800m freestyle with both champions leaving the Tokyo Olympic Games with two gold medals apiece.
Boomers win emotional first Olympic medal
One of the best moments of the Games was saved for the final couple of days as the Boomers finally broke through to win an Olympic medal.
The Australian men’s basketball team had never won an Olympic medal in their previous 14 attempts and had placed 4th four times, including in controversial fashion back in 2016.
While they were well beaten in the semi-finals by the all-conquering USA squad, the Boomers regrouped and were far too good for Luka Doncic and Slovenia in the bronze medal playoff match.
Patty Mills was incredible with 42 points in the 107-93 victory and seeing how much it meant to him after the game was truly special.
However, the best reaction to the win was from Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze who broke down in tears describing how much the medal meant to him and every player who paved the way for the Boomers success.
It was a truly special moment and just showed how much the Olympic Games and sport can mean to people.
The women’s 4x100m relay golds
The Australian women have had a mortgage on the 4x100m freestyle relay of late, winning gold in 2012 and 2016.
They once again came in as favourites to these Olympics and the team of Bronte Campbell, Meg Harris, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell completely dominated their rivals to win gold in world record time.
It was Australia’s first gold medal at Tokyo and set the tone for the rest of the Australian team.
Australia’s women’s medley team of Kaylee McKeown, Chelsea Hodges, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell also claimed the last gold for Australia in the pool, this time by a much slimmer margin.
29-year-old Campbell pulled off a remarkable final changeover with just 0.04 seconds separating triumph and disqualification.
She managed to push herself in front of the Americans in an incredible swim from one of our most decorated Olympians ever.
Browning winning 100m heat
Australia hasn’t had a great record in the 100m sprint, but youngster Rohan Browning put in a stunning performance in his heat, winning the race in a time of 10.01.
It was an incredible effort from the 23-year-old, who is sporting one of the best mullets going around, as he set the country alight with his win and hopefully inspired the next generation to run super-fast.
While he missed out on making the final, the signs are very positive for Browning heading into the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Stubbletly-Cook and Chalmers outsanding in the water
While the Aussie men were well and truly overshadowed by the brilliant women in the pool, Zac Stubbletly-Cook and Kyle Chalmers were simply outstanding.
Stubblety-Cook came into the Games as relatively unknown, but soon announced himself as he qualified for the 200m breaststroke final with the fastest time.
One of the best named athletes at the Olympics then delivered the swim of his life as he powered home to win the only gold for the Aussie men in the pool.
Chalmers has battled injury since his remarkable gold medal in the 100m freestyle in 2016, but still came into the Games with plenty of expectations on himself.
His swim in the 4x100m freestyle relay was incredible as he dragged Australia from sixth onto the podium in third with a stunning time of 46.44 seconds.
He almost defended his crown in the 100m freestyle as well, just falling to US superstar Caeleb Dressel by .06 of a second in one of the best races of the Games.
He won over plenty of Aussies with his classy post-race interview where he outlined his physical struggles over the past five years and said he left everything he had out in the pool.
Super Sunday: Australia’s best Olympic day in history
Sunday 1 August has now gone down in history as the country’s greatest Olympic day ever with four gold medals.
The day started with Emma Mckeon winning the 50m freestyle and quickly backing it up to lead Australia to a win in the 4x100m medley relay to start Australia’s day off brilliantly.
BMX star Logan Martin then claimed the first ever gold medal in the BMX freestyle with a stunning performance.
Sailor Matt Wearn then took home gold in the men’s laser event which he had wrapped up before the final race even started.
Magnificent Moloney and Dubler’s Olympic spirit
21-year-old Ash Moloney announced himself as one of the best athletes in the world by becoming the first Australian decathlete to win an Olympic medal.
While Moloney’s bronze medal winning performance was simply stunning in one of the most difficult events, it was his Australian teammate that summed up the term ‘Olympic spirit’.
Cedric Dubler struggled with a hamstring injury throughout the event and finished up 21st, however he emerged from the Games as one of the true heroes.
Heading into the final event, the gruelling 1500m, with Moloney just hanging onto the bronze medal position, Dubler sacrificed his own race to spur his teammate on.
Moloney himself declared he had hit a wall with about 800m to run and with his rivals a long way in front, his bronze medal was hanging by a thread.
That’s when Dubler dropped back beside his teammate and started screaming at him to push on and hit the finish line hard.
While the audience couldn’t hear what he was yelling at him, the intensity was clearly there, and it worked as Moloney surged through the line to finish in a personal best time of 4:39.19 and secure the historic medal.
While it’s Moloney’s name that will be etched in the history books as the medallist, we will all remember the selfless act of Cedric Dubler just as fondly.
Peter Bol’s inspiration runs
Peter Bol captured a nation with his semi-final win that saw him become the first Australian into the 800m final since Seoul in 1988.
He set the Australian record in his semi-final victory that saw the great Bruce McAvaney declare him a genuine gold medal chance.
He didn’t end up getting the fairy-tale result, finishing in fourth after having to set the tempo in the final himself which allowed his rivals to sit back and finish over the top.
His effort to grit his teeth and give everything he had to finish the race was inspirational and he earnt a special place in many fans’ hearts.
Emma McKeon’s record breaking Olympics
McKeon came into these Olympics as a somewhat unsung hero of the pool, but she emerged as a superstar our most successful Olympian of all time.
She won four golds (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay), and three bronze medals (100m butterfly, 4x200m freestyle, 4x100m mixed medley relay) to take her total Olympic medal tally to 11 medals (5 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze).
She equalled the most amount of medals won by a female at a single Games with seven medals and her 11 total medals eclipsed legends Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones who both have nine.
McKeon seems to be getting better and better and at 27-years-old, she might still be in her prime by the time Paris 2024 comes around.
Matildas extra-time win over GB
While the Matilda’s campaign ended in heartbreaking losses to Sweden and the USA that saw them miss out on a medal, their quarter-final win over Great Britain was one for the ages.
Trailing 2-1 with just minutes remaining, our superstar Sam Kerr stepped up and levelled the scores to send the game into extra-time.
Teenager Mary Fowler’s long-range shot took a deflection that put Australia ahead before Kerr scored again to make it 4-2 and all but wrap up the win.
It didn’t end up the fairy-tale that all Aussies were hoping for, but the effort from the Matildas all tournament would’ve inspired many young kids.
Melissa Wu winning bronze
Melissa Wu won a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 10m synchronised platform diving alongside Briony Cole but hadn’t managed a solo medal in the 10m platform until now.
She finished sixth in Beijing, fourth in London 2012 and fifth in Rio 2016, so winning bronze in Tokyo was extra sweet.
She finished behind the two remarkable Chinese divers Quan Honchan (aged 14) and Chen Yuxi (aged 15) who were in a league of their own and it was the consistent Wu who held off the other challengers for bronze.
Kaylee McKeown winning gold then dropping an F bomb on live TV
Kaylee McKeown announced herself in the Tokyo pool winning three gold medals in the 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 4x100m medley relay.
While her swimming was undeniably brilliant, her reaction after the 100m backstroke gold was just as good and endeared her to many more Australians.
The 20-year-old was asked what she wanted to say to her family watching back home and quickly let out a “F*** yeah!”
She then doubled down on the swear words, saying “S***, sorry” as she realised she was on live TV.
It was just a great moment from an excited young athlete who had just realised her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.
Language warning
Harry Garside claiming historic boxing medal
Harry Garside is a ballet-dancing plumber who just became the first Australian to medal in Olympic boxing.
He’s not afraid to be himself in and out of the ring with his honest post-fight press conferences endearing himself to the Australian public.
He won a tight quarter-final to book a spot in the semi-final where he was outclassed by the supreme athlete Andy Cruz but Garside’s place in the history books was already etched.
McDermott and Barber medal in the field
It feels like every medal Australia get in any track and field event is something special so seeing Kelsey-Lee Barber win bronze in javelin and Nicola McDermott silver in the high jump was simply brilliant.
Barber struggled with serious form and confidence issues leading up to the Tokyo Games, but put all that aside to throw 64.56m to claim an Olympic medal.
McDermott broke the Australian record, clearing 2.02m and coming so close to extending the competition with her last jump at 2.04m.
Rowing and Canoe Sprint gold
Australia won their two gold medals in rowing just minutes apart as both of our men’s and women’s fours crews held on in nail-biting finishes.
The women were up first and broke away with the Dutch crew early on before outlasting them by just .34 seconds on the line to take the win.
The men then took a big lead into the final 250m before a flying Romanian crew made it a tense finish but the Aussies clung on for gold.
The next week in the canoe sprint, Australia’s Jean van der Westhuyzen and Thomas Green won the gold medal in yet another close finish on the water.
Our Aussie pair got out to almost a canoe length lead before the Germans looked to have levelled up with 100m to go.
The Aussies dug deep and found an extra gear in the closing stages to edge ahead and claim another magnificent gold for Australia.
Let us know in the comments your favourite moment from the Tokyo Olympic Games.
