There could well be a young boy or girl sitting next to you who will be a star in Brisbane in 2032, all because Emma McKeon is now the greatest Australian Olympian of all time.
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Perhaps he saw Albion Park's Jessica Hull set a national record in the 1500 metres and it will inspire him to push harder at Little Athletics, at least whenever this blasted lockdown ends.
Maybe they liked Berry's Shane Rose ride for silver in the eventing teams equestrian and decided Pony Club is worth a shot.
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They could have met Blake Govers or Flynn Ogilvie, part of the Illawarra's famously tight-knit hockey community, who can stand proud after winning silver in a dramatic shoot-out against Belgium.
Or she watched Kieran Woolley, from Minnamurra, pull off some ridiculously-impressive tricks on the world's biggest stage and thought a skateboard is the birthday present she wants.
When I was a youngster, my parents bought me a Batman-themed skateboard.
I only ever rode it once and almost broke my nose, blood pouring out along with tears of childhood defeat.
Yet, on Thursday, here I was discussing with colleagues the merits of why Woolley was dudded in the final and his score of 82.04 should have been higher, closer to medal contention.
The power of the Olympics, eh?
Emma McKeon became our most decorated Olympian ever and she's 10 minutes from where I grew up, so there's something in the water at Wollongong
- Jessica Hull
Three years ago, at the age of 14, Woolley took out the Illawarra Academy of Sport's Tobin Family Award and Athlete of the Year prize, which provided the first glimpse of his capabilities.
Now here he is in the final eight at an Olympics, the first time skateboarding has been included, as Australian teammate Keegan Palmer pulled off a breathtaking 95.83 to win gold.
Of course top athletes show the next generation what is possible but there can be a disconnect when gazing through the television screen, wondering how they could make it to that point.
What becomes truly special is when those holding medals in Tokyo are entirely relatable. Standing on a pedestal of achievement, McKeon may have a Group 1-swimming bloodline, but she was never just destined to win four gold last week.
Having once doubted her potential as an Olympian, a life-changing decision to attack the feature sprint races led her to breakthrough 50 and 100m freestyle triumphs.
"Emma McKeon became our most decorated Olympian ever and she's 10 minutes from where I grew up, so there's something in the water at Wollongong," Hull said, after qualifying for Friday night's final.
Even after Achy Breaky Heart Thursday - where the Boomers and Kookaburras' hopes of gold were dashed and the Matildas missed out on bronze in a thrilling 4-3 loss to the USA where Caitlin Foord dazzled and dared - I'm convinced it is indeed Australia's finest Olympics performance.
The natural advantages of hosting an Olympics, more athletes competing and more funding to back them, was always going to produce results in Sydney.
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The 17 gold in Athens in 2004 was the flow-on effect of what that created.
Tokyo is something different.
In the middle of a pandemic, the Australian athletes have lifted a nation with more than half the population in lockdown.
Overall, it is certainly the Illawarra's greatest Olympic Games.
It will leave a giant legacy, one which we'll still be talking about when the Games comes to Australian soil again in Brisbane in 11 years time.
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