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what went wrong with aussies
I
t was a result that had plenty of experts screaming for
autopsies and inquests: Australia could only scrape into
10th position at Rio 2016. That once proud sporting nation
had been shamed and cast drift in world sports.
Heads would roll. Careers would end. This tragedy would be
buried.
But should Australians be that surprised that they could amass
a mere 29 medals, only eight of which were gold? Does wearing
an emu and a kangaroo on your spandex running togs make
you destined to win, and failure an anomaly?
Or is Australia just a small country whose time in the sporting
sunshine is over?
WHY THE SHOCK?
To some extent, the disappointment is a result of a touch
of over-enthusiasm and a dusting of hubris. The Australian
Olympic Committee made bold statements before Rio
even began, predicting 37 in total, including 13 golds. Later,
“Swimming World Magazine” said that the swimmers alone
would bag 20 medals.
Team chef de mission Kitty Chiller was on record saying 16
golds were for the taking. With these numbers, 5th in the
world was expected.
So you could say that expectations were high.
In a way, Australia has become spoilt by international success.
There is an ingrained belief that this is the little country who
could, who have the blood of genius-grafters like Donald
Bradman in their veins, and is destined to keep winning.
The fairy story of Sydney 2000, with its 16 golds out of a total
of 58, transformed into the new norm, an aspirational number
that has somehow become the bench mark.
Since then, the momentum has gone out of the Australian
machine. The numbers show a clear pattern:
• Athens: 50
• Beijing: 46
• London: 35
Of course, the right people saw these numbers and took
action. Which is perhaps why even the administrators were
shocked by this whimper of an effort. Because they had a plan.
A very expensive plan.
WHAT WENT WRONG
WITH AUSSIES
By Timothy Mottram
R I O ’ S IMPL I CAT I ONS FOR AUS TRAL I AN SPORT