They were all there. Journalists from Australia’s TV networks, newspapers and radio stations crowded around waiting to speak to James Magnussen.
When the 21-year-old finally walked in the media swarmed and the questions came thick and fast. “Are you ready?” “Are you thinking about Olympic gold yet?”
Read more: Australia gloom after Olympic swimming ‘gold hush’
After Magnussen left, every other Australian swimmer who stepped up to speak to the throng of media also found themselves fielding questions about Magnussen.
“What makes the missile so special?”
That was just under two weeks before the start of the Olympic games and the atmosphere amongst both the Australian swimming team and the media following it has changed a lot since then.
Just one gold, the first time in 36 years Australia hasn’t won an individual gold medal in the pool, will do that.
The green and gold’s search for ‘weapons of mass destruction’ has been about as successful as George Bush Jnr’s.
So the first head on the chopping block has been the missile himself, Magnussen.
“When you flag your intentions to the rest of the world…someone’s going to come and get you, aren’t they,” claimed Rebecca Wilson.
It’s the sort of misguided criticism you see when someone doesn’t really know how to analyse the technical details of a sport – a prevalent issue when broadcasters have to find talent for dozens of sports that only garner public attention every four years.
Wilson’s comments are also part of a wave of criticism and self-reflection sweeping an Australian public used to a gold rush in the pool.
Yet questions like what has gone wrong and who should pay for our lack of gold can be dangerous.
The nature of the Olympics leads us towards the temptation of rating the success of a multi-million dollar sports program on results that can be out of your control instead of the processes used and decisions made along the way.
Magnussen lost the 100m freestyle final at his first Olympic games by 0.01s – you simply can’t legislate for that. The positive though is after years without a serious Australian hope in swimming’s blue ribbon event, a talent has been identified and developed.
This is not a deflection of blame, after every major tournament it is crucial to take a look at the success and merits of a program, but judgements must use more than the results of a single meet.
In the meantime Australians who feel they haven’t gotten bang for their annual $100m of taxpayer buck spent on Olympic sports should consider whether it’s the outcome or the outlay they should be questioning.
At St James’ Park in Newcastle on Tuesday, a Colombian man named Juan Pablo spent the lead up to the start of la seleccion femenina’s match against France walking around the stands uniting all of his fellow countrymen and women into one big group.
With dozens of Colombians gathered, they began singing and chanting with such passion the locals were soon joining in.
As the crowd’s attention focused on the Colombian fans, Juan Pablo stepped to the front of the stand and unfurled a homemade placard. Yet it wasn’t for the players, but the crowd.
It read: “England thank you very much for having our team here in Newcastle for the Olympics.”
It garnered a standing ovation and amazingly at the end of the game locals were asking this passionate and humble Colombian for his autograph.
I wonder when we as Australians lost the joy and pride of competing in a global event and replaced our Olympic dreams with the demand for golden ones.
Edna Kennedy
Guest
The Olympic Games bring "the best athletes in the world" together. In many cases Australia won silver rather than gold by a fraction of a second or a fraction of an inch difference. I am really disgusted by the verbal attack on our athletes because "they didn't do well enough".
RGKYou
Guest
So it's John Howard's fault?? Pathetic comment
Laverne
Guest
I think the media and the athletes promote the attitude of "only gold is good enough". After the rowers won silver the commentator said "they'll be devastated they lost" - the whole thing is appalling and it's about time Australia (the media and athletes) got some perspective. Aust is a small country spending a disproportionate amount of money on sport. How is it that silver isn't good enough? It's a state of mind that causes dissatisfaction, is arrogant in the extreme and an embarrassment. Years ago I loved watching the olympics, you got a sense of the field and the competition, not just seeing Australian athletes have their turn and listening to someone like Eddie Maguire's drivel. I am not going to watch any more - let it all be over.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Australians believe their own hype and then set up high standards for the public which they can't deliver, unfortunately. That has been the story of the London Olympic games for the Australian swim team and to a less extent other Australian athletes.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
For those interested here's a picture of the Colombian fan, Juan Pablo, signing autographs after the game - http://twitpic.com/aexdox
lolly
Guest
Yeah, he really did but he has admitted that. Some learning process he's going through.
Phillip
Guest
I recall a board meeting where we were deciding to sponsor some expensive yacht. The answer quickly turned to No when someone asked- name the yacht that won the last event?
onside
Guest
We all have our favourite sporting passions.However when it comes to the Olympics, I sense that what was once the true spirit, is somewhat deminished. How can it be otherwise, when multi millionaires are competing.I dont begrudge such people.It just that it seems a little out of whack with my illusional Olympic spirit. And yes, it's an illusion.In my mind,even the nation v nation medal tally rankles.
Axelv
Guest
It doesn't matter whether you know of the athlete or not. Once they are on the field competing, they are representing Australia, they are representing us, we are introduced to them in the starting line up and we immediately embrace them. We cheer for them like no tomorrow, willing them on for Gold, Silver or Bronze. Who has heard of Stephanie Rice before 2008? Who heard of Ryan Baley before 2004? It's many of the unknown names that you need to look out for and they are normally the ones that have the best hopes of carrying success for the nation. I've never heard of Coutts until 2012, yet I already knew people like Sullivan, Magnussen, Rickett, Rice, Jones etc. Yet Coutts is more successful than all of those combined in these games. (I'm not disagreeing with you by the way, just adding to your point and rebutting onside and sportsfanmelb)
Australian Rules
Guest
It's completely reasonable that most people don't know the names of swimmers, kayakers, rowers, track athletes etc...they only bob up once every 4 years. Only the commodified (and thus, successful) champions become household names. Conversely, people follow their footy clubs every single week during winter, and the media's there all year round. At the Olympics, Australians want Australian success - it really doesn't matter where it comes from, or what obscure archer or kayaker is giving it to them.
JVGO
Guest
Or maybe the difference between becoming an Aussie icon whose every weakness is forgiven like Hacket or just another bum at the bar.
B.A Sports
Guest
How so? 99% of our athletes so far haven't won a gold medal and how many of them have been "hung out to dry"?
Gwils
Guest
It's shocking that Australian sports fans give more priority to their football clubs, unlike those Liverpool and Arsenal fans putting their club to one side to support Great Britain.
Boris
Guest
Nice article and dare I say that the attitude in question is driven by the media to a fair extent. It gives me the sh*ts that all they talk about is gold medals. It means that our athletes are on a hiding to nothing- if they win then that's great but if they don't the media hangs them out to dry.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Have to agree with onside - go even further - see if anyone you know can name 10 Australian Olympians at these games off the top of their head. Ask the same person to name the starting line up of their favourite footy team (AFL, NRL, Super Rugby, A-League) they will do it in 2 minutes.
onside
Guest
We lost the Olympic spirit when we became more interested in winning purely for the sake of winning, rather than competing for the pleasure and beauty of the contest. Most Australians,are only interested in sports where Australians have a good chance of winning. Most cannot remember past Australian medal winners, let alone those from other countries. Just for fun, ask people at random to name the four girls who just won Gold in the swimming. Despite the illusion of being a sports mad nation, outside of either a favourite football team,or a few sporting heroes, most Australians have neither interest in, nor basic knowledge about most sports. To most Australians the Olympics is a disposable commodity. Sports answer to a one night stand. The Olympic spirit may as well be a drink.
nachos supreme
Guest
Humility has been the exception to the rule in Australian sport, especially mainstream Australian sportsmen/teams for the past 20 years. Now being churlish is called being competitive and arrogance backing yourself. It's getting old, FFS just the other day you have a silver medalist at the Olympic Games telling the world that it's not good enough and she's let everyone under the sun down. How good do you think you are that an Olympic Silver Medal is not acceptable? I'm all for the 2nd is first loser etc etc but c'mon just own up, admit that you did the best you could on the day and somebody else doing just that,was better.There's no shame in that. There's no weakness there. It's called sport. It happens, it's part of what makes it so good.
sledgeross
Guest
Its a learning curve. Magnusson underestimated what it means to be an olympian. Its not like other swim meets. people lift an extra 10% and you have to match them. Its ok to be confident but not arrogant. I think he has learnt his lesson and he will be better for it.
B.A Sports
Guest
I saw someone on an American site write in regard to Nathan Adrian (who won the mens 100m freestyle) "0.01 of a second. The difference between having your face on the front of a Wheeties box and disappearing into obscurity"...
DJN
Guest
What rubbish...... we are revelling in a kayak silver, Sprengers silver , the womens coxless pairs... we recall both the champions and the upset winners across all Olympics and we always have .....we are disspointed when you dont perform to the best of your ability ...more so when you tell us how great you are GOING to be.... its not about trying hard its about getting it right on the day /night ... we applaud and respect Olympians who dont win medals and we feel the pain of losing .... but why cant we be disappointed when they fail .... and why shouldnt the team be accountable... how is the coach different from a football coach .. if the team underperforms you get fired...