Anna Meares doesn’t want to jinx it.
So Australia’s Olympic chef de mission baulks at making medal predictions.
But one month from the opening ceremony in Paris, Australia is on the cusp of its greatest Games of all.
Australia’s Olympic benchmark is the 17 gold medals harvested at the Tokyo Games three years ago and in 2004 in Athens.
In terms of spread of medals, the nation’s best result is podium placings in 20 sports at the heady home Games of Sydney 2000.
And that record return could be bettered in Paris.
“One of the things that is quite pertinent at the moment is that we are having quite a bit of success and great performances across the board, in a breadth of sports,” Meares told AAP.
Chef de mission Anna Meares knows what Olympic success is all about. Image by Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS
Australia traditionally sources most medals from swimming, athletics, cycling, rowing and sailing – the top five sports in the nation’s proud Olympic history.
In Paris, the customary are bolstered by the contemporary as the Australian team enters the Games with geniune medal chances in at least 22 sports.
“The potential for that to translate into Olympic medals is very exciting,” Meares said.
“The one thing I want to reiterate is there is no guarantee: you can be a world champion and it does not come together on the day.
“There are so many elements to the pressure cooker of the Olympics and the environment that are not just physical.
“It’s mental, it’s psychological, it’s emotional and in some cases it’s spiritual.”
Australia’s Olympic hierarchy scrapped medal forecasts and aspirational goals after an ill-fated Rio Games in 2016.
Then, the Australian Olympic Committee continued with tradition and publicly set an aim of a top-five finish on the medal table. The nation crashed to 10th, the worst result in two decades.
Since Rio, Australian officials keep quiet.
“I love the fact the AOC doesn’t have a target for the medal tally,” said Meares, a four-time Olympian and dual Olympics gold medallist.
“I would have really appreciated that in my day as an athlete.
“Having a competition within a competition at the biggest multi-sport competition in the world is enough stress.”
Instead of forecasting, Meares borrows from Swimming Australia’s head coach Rohan Taylor.
“I love his line: we will take as many as we can get,” she said.
Taylor and his swim team will again set the tone for Australia’s campaign.
“We know they have great history, we know they’ve delivered great performances in the past,” Meares said of the swim team.
“And I really do believe that this new contingent are ready to write their own chapter.”
The Dolphins boast reigning Olympic gold medallists Ariarne Titmus and Kaylee McKeown, among others, and a batch of world-beaters including Mollie O’Callaghan and Sam Short.
On different waters, French-born Jessica Fox (canoeing), Tom Green (canoeing), Matt Wearn (sailing) and Australia’s men’s and women’s coxless fours rowers are defending Olympic champions.
Jessica Fox could well be the biggest star on the 2024 Games team. Image by Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS
And diver Cassiel Rousseau, last year’s men’s 10m platform world champ, hopes to become the second gold medallist in his family: grandfather Michel won track cycling gold, for France, at the 1956 Melbourne Games.
The nation’s track and field team features medal fancies in several disciplines including world champion pole vaulter Nina Kennedy and high jumpers Eleanor Patterson and Tokyo silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers.
In BMX cycling, Logan Martin defends his Olympic title – as will skateboarder Keegan Palmer, who triumphed in Tokyo when the sport made its Olympic debut.
Australia has individual medal contenders in beach volleyball, boxing and weightlifting; equestrian, tennis and golf – and a host of team sports.
Patty Mills and the Boomers will be gunning to again get among the medals in Paris. Image by Joe Giddens/AAP PHOTOS
Australia’s men’s and women’s basketballers and hockey players; women’s and men’s rugby sevens; the Matildas in women’s football; the Stingers in women’s water polo – all have bona fide medal claims.
“It’s a sign that Australian sport, the pathway and opportunities of exposure, are certainly improving,” Meares said.
“With that comes the opportunity for athletes to shine.”
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