THERE’S a sharp contrast in the Olympics fallout from Rio.
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Nationally, the navel-gazing and finger-pointing has begun in earnest over funding models and falling short of the Australian Olympic Committee’s own bold predictions. There’s always uneasy angst in the public domain when pride of elite athletes meets arguing over funding models and failing to meet expectations.
Thousands just wanted to reach through the television and hug world record holder Cate Campbell after labelling her own 100m freestyle final defeat as “possibly the greatest choke in Olympic history”. The sweeping reviews have an impact across all sports.
Among them, hockey is bracing for a funding cut and structural shake-up, after both the men’s and women’s teams missed out on medals.
There’s been calls to move their base away from Perth and the Illawarra contingent wait to see how the dust settles.
But in Wollongong and along the South Coast, Rio is cause for celebration.
The hockey disappointment aside, the region’s athletes fulfilled their dreams and their potential.
It’s hard to split the Illawarra’s finest moment.
Photos of Nicole Beck kissing her Rugby Sevens gold medal with daughter Sophie went global, as one of those special heart-melting moments.
Emma McKeon returns as Australia’s most successful athlete with four medals, including a 4x100m gold which was secured with a mighty swim by Campbell in the anchor leg. McKeon’s best individual moment delivered bronze in the 200m freestyle final, from lane seven.
Jarrod Poort’s phenomenal swim in the 10km marathon swim, leading the field by more than a minute, captured the attention of a nation.
Elsewhere, David McKeon’s leg of the 4x200m, stopping the clock seven tenths better than his previous personal best, was remarkable. Ryan Gregson was luckless in the 1500m final, but produced a super kick in the semi-final to qualify.
Berry equestrian Shane Rose was resigned to being a spectator on the last day after being eliminated, but won his second Olympic medal with a team eventing bronze.
And Madeline Hills made two Olympics finals to cap an outstanding Games. Next Saturday, the Illawarra’s athletes will parade at Wollongong Central in Crown Street and handed the keys to the city.
While, Australia finished with eight gold medals – short of the 13-16 range predicted pre-Games – three Illawarra athletes won gold, as well as two silver and two bronze. An individual count which would have put the region 23rd on the medal tally.
As the AOC reflects on its own missteps, it’s the Illawarra chance to celebrate our greatest ever Olympics.
#MERCURYFINALS
The Mercury wants you to be part of the finals action.
We’re launching the #mercuryfinals page during August and September, including all the live scores from Illawarra junior and senior sport. And we want you to be involved as well.
Post your scores from finals games, as well as team shots, action photos or selfies of you and family and friends enjoying the game on Twitter, using the hashtag #mercuryfinals.
We’ll post them all on our website and will be giving out prizes for the best and most creative posts.