The girls were beaming, the flag was hoisted, and Advance Australia Fair was being blasted on television screens right across the world.
It was a proud night to be an Australian, as the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team picked up our first gold medal of the 2012 London Olympics.
You felt proud to call yourself an Australian.
Fast-forward then to the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, where we were once again expected to compete for the gold medal, and the same pride was evident once more.
The likes of James Magnussen and James Roberts were bound to bring home a medal for the Aussies, and we could finally claim bragging rights over the United States and Michael Phelps.
But after a slugging swim from Magnussen, a strong swim from Phelps and an incredible finish from the French, Australia found themselves out the medals and clueless as to what had gone wrong.
They had been blown away. They were simply not good enough.
Which, in itself, is absolutely no problem whatsoever. The four men in the pool had tried their hardest to do their nation proud and satisfy the desires of the millions watching them, and they had failed.
We would be proud, no matter what.
Well, that was until the tears.
The tears, the hands on hips, the pouting look away from the camera but still clearly in sight of the camera, was nothing to be proud of. James Magnussen’s comments about “I have nothing to say” are nothing we should be proud of.
These are professional athletes representing their country. They are to be professional and know that whatever the outcome is, they are to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the nation they are representing. They are to be gracious winners or gracious losers – whatever the outcome may be.
Yet what Magnussen did had nothing to the appalling performance by Australian backstroke sensation Emily Seebohm, who burst into tears following her silver medal in the women’s 100m backstroke final.
And no, not the good kind of tears.
Seebohm was clearly distraught with her second place to American swimmer Missy Franklin that she was overcome with emotion – unable to hold back the tears of disappointment and regret.
I completely understand this; well, as best I can seeing I have never competed at an Olympic event. I understand the pain of losing a grand final, or narrowly missing out on something.
What I do not understand is crying at a silver medal.
You won a silver medal for your country. You are the second best swimmer in the world for that event. You have done your country proud, you have done your family proud – you have done yourself proud.
And then you cry because it wasn’t good enough and suddenly all that pride everyone was feeling suddenly drops away.
There is nothing proud about watching a swimmer who finished second and will walk away with a medal from the Olympic Games cry because it wasn’t good enough – nothing proud about it at all.
We won’t even begin to comment on her blame-shifting onto social media for her poor performance. Nobody made you check Facebook and unless you stopped to use Twitter halfway through the race, only your swimming can be held accountable for the result.
Accept you weren’t good enough to win, accept you wanted the gold medal and then hold your head high for winning a silver medal at the Olympic Games.
Don’t shift the blame and definitely don’t cry.
If you don’t want your silver medal, give it to the girl that finished third or give it to the girl that missed the final by a fraction of a second – unable to state her claim for an Olympic medal.
Emily Seebohm has made us proud for the six years she’s been in the Australian Swimming Team and she will continue to make us proud for as long as she represents the greatest country in the world on the international stage.
Just don’t give us the tears. We’re not proud of the tears. You just look like a spoilt little kid who didn’t get her way so she chucked a tantrum.
I’m proud to be Australian and I proudly cheer on every single athlete that represents our great nation on whatever level in whatever sport.
I’m proud of Emily Seebohm and James Magnussen.
So take your medal and hold your head high. Let all of Australia heap as much praise possible on your incredible efforts at the Olympic Games. You gave your everything, and that’s all anyone can ask.
That’s what makes us smile; that’s what makes us stand an applaud. That’s what makes us cheer on Australia at the London Olympics and that what’s makes us proud.
Just leave the tears in the water, where they belong.
Rain
Guest
Are you kidding me. Oh my gosh you have no idea what its like to be a swimmer.
Pippa
Guest
Well, test out your theory next time you are in an Olympic final.... oh wait... you won't.
Pippa
Guest
Soft? Spend every hour you aren't sleeping or eating swimming endless laps for years and then think if you have the same response. I'm over lazy couch potatoes complaining about elite athletes and their behaviour! Elite sport is emotional! Get over it! Oh and I think your 'Guru' status should be taken away for poor grammar!
Pippa
Guest
These athletes have not been brainwashed they choose to eat, sleep and breath the dream of GOLD! It is very easy to say what you are saying looking from the outside in, but they are allowed to express disappointment in not achieving what they have dedicated their life to achieving. Elite sport is extremely emotional, that's what makes it entertaining to watch, but the emotions can't always be positive!
Ex-Mancunian
Guest
I agree totally with all you say
Helen
Guest
I've been seeing many displays of emotions and tears by the Brits (including the commentators at times!) and, quite frankly, I don't care what sort of emotion they display, as long as it isn't bad sportsmanship directed at another athlete. Throughout the BBC's coverage I've been inspired by the personal stories and emotional journeys of those competing. I've found it very refreshing - even endearing - to see the emotionally tearful reactions to a win or a loss, not least because it's entirely natural to release the many tensions built up before such an important event. It certainly makes a welcome change from the emotionless, almost arrogant sporting attitude so ingrained in our macho Aussie national identity. I hope Australia's disappointing performance will bring about a more modest and renewed enthusiasm for the joy of participating in sport. It also wouldn't hurt for Australia to concentrate more on expanding its national identity to its other strengths, including cultural. Enough of the old outdated tough, hard as nails image. It's time to show a more grown up side. Yes, that means being comfortable shedding the odd tear. An Aussie.
aussie pete
Guest
Well HAlf a billion dollars for the olympic elite Athletes ' from the taxpayer ' and the swimmers are dissapointed and upset with silver or bronze ??? they should be over the moon and bursting with Aussie pride or just happy that we the public PAID for them to even go .Swimming in Australia has lost its direction . JUST wearing the uniform is a great accivement
Seriously, Who says Oi?
Guest
"We seem to have no problem when Roger Federer or Andy Murray cries when placing second." Who's this "We" you speak of?
I think they can cry because they spent too much time training and not enough time writing their thoughts. Maybe writing thoughts is faster to do than memorising thoughts, plus reviewing the writing is quicker than remembering the thoughts.
LeagueLunatic
Roar Rookie
Star Spangled Banner is a moving anthem? It's one of the worst anthems I can think of. You make it sound like it's the French anthem or something. I would rank the American anthem with the Australian anthem. Both are modern and rubbish.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Completely agree! :D
amazonfan
Roar Guru
I'm not behind him, and I'm not the only one. I see nothing wrong with crying whatsoever. It's an honest expression of emotion. If you don't want to see them emotionally express disappointment, don't watch the post-race interviews.
Gleeso
Guest
Star Spangled Banner makes me wish I was American. We desperately need a moving anthem. Even NZ's is better.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
We shouldn't be sniping at individuals' emotional reactions to missing out on gold. With swimming in particular, it's the media driven hype that creates this crestfallen phenomenon of sheer devastation and tears These youngsters carry a weight of expectation they shouldn't have to bear. It's terrible to think that these competitors who have tried their guts out and narrowly 'fail', believe that every second Australian is a Laurie Lawrence, Oi! Oi, Oi,nutcase!!
Jono
Guest
I commented on Steph Rice crying in an article earlier this week. Suffice to say, I was said to have been incredibly cruel. I think it's very immature.
superba
Guest
I really don't see anything wrong with this showing of emotion . What you are seeing is how thay feel in the moment . That is their true emotional response. That is how they feel . What do you want them to do - fake it ? Magnussen was shell shocked . He couldn't speak . Seebohm was upset in seeing her dream shattered at what she had lost - gold. Emotion at this level is almost reflex .Perhaps you should criticise Channel 9 for doing the interview immediately after the race.But we know what its all about - ratings. Give the swimmers 5mins of privacy before the chat so they can collect their thoughts . @Nicolarse you got it right re cheering/not cheering as the goal goes over .
The High Shot
Roar Pro
Maybe if they'd cried BEFORE the race, they'd have less weight to carry through the water and they'd win gold?! HELLO SWIMMING AUSTRALIA ARE YOU LISTENING?!?!
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Haha. I'm glad someone picked up that little joke at the end. I think you can cry in water. Not in salt water, but probably yes in a pool. Though who knows with all the chlorine they pump into it.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
That or the Biggest Loser.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
True, but we do hear these athletes names all the time. I know nothing is big as the Olympics, but it's not like we've never heard of Seebohm or Magnussen before. We see them at the trials, and the world champs and at the australian championships. Yes, it's nothing near the attention that they get at the Olympics. But that pressure exists in all sports.