It’s the start of an Olympic year. The Olympics only come around every four years and they are the big stage where lifelong dreams can be made or shattered in an instant.
Many favourites have been rolled, and many underdogs have triumphed in those moments that matter most.
Australia has a long and proud tradition at the Olympics. We’ve won 136 gold medals since the first modern Games in Athens in 1896, only missing out in Berlin (1936) and Montreal (1976).
The 1956 Melbourne Olympics is probably the first one in the consciousness of most living Australians. That got me thinking. What are the greatest Australian Olympic gold medals in living memory?
I’ve compiled the below list, with a ‘one gold medal per Olympics’ limit. That criteria is obviously subjective and forces you to leave some absolute champions out.
Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Duncan Armstrong, Sally Pearson and Dean Lukin are examples who haven’t made my list.
An Olympic gold medal is the ultimate though, and this is just my opinion of the best Australian one at each Games since 1956.
1956 (Melbourne) – Betty Cuthbert, Athletics, 100 metres (she also won the 200 as well).
1960 (Rome) – Herb Elliott, Athletics, 1500 metres.
1964 (Tokyo) – Dawn Fraser, Swimming, 100 metres freestyle (her third consecutive Olympic gold medal).
1968 (Mexico) – Ralph Doubell, Athletics 800 metres.
1972 (Munich) – Shane Gould, Swimming, 200 metres individual medley (but you could take your pick of the 3 individual events she won at these Games, she set a world record in each).
1980 (Moscow) – Swimming, men’s 4 x 100 medley relay. Norman May’s famous ‘gold, gold, gold’ call of this race deserves a medal as well.
1984 (Los Angeles) – Jon Sieben, swimming, 200 metres butterfly. He was a 17- year old underdog who broke a world record and beat a raging German favourite.
1988 (Seoul) – Debbie Flintoff-King, Athletics, 400 metres hurdles.
1992 (Barcelona) – Rowing, Men’s Coxless Four.
1996 (Atlanta) – Kieren Perkins, Swimming, 1500 metres freestyle (the famous swim from lane 8, and his second consecutive Olympic gold medal).
2000 (Sydney) – Cathy Freeman, Athletics, 400 metres (running with the added pressure of the hopes of a nation on her shoulders).
2004 (Athens) – Hockey, Men’s (breaking through for gold, after either bronze or silver medal efforts at the previous 3 Olympics).
2008 (Beijing) – Emma Snowsill, Triathlon
2012 (London) – Anna Meares, Cycling, where she turned the tables on her long-time English arch rival Victoria Pendleton in her own backyard.
Which Australian gold medals performances do you rate and who do you tip to win gold medals for Australia in Rio this year?
John mcguire
Guest
With great respect , the Lawrie Lawrence reaction to Duncan Armstrongs win in 1988 is a pale imitation of his earlier reaction to Jon Sieben's win in 1984. The most incredibly emotional response from a coach; and fitting for the greatest performance by an Australian sportsman ever in my view. Sadly I have not been able to find any video coverage of Lawries reaction and must rely on memory. See if you can track it down.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks Peeeko, I still like the concept of Olympics, I try not to think about some of the side issues like performance enhancing drugs etc, which in some cases have been government programs. Some of the sports shouldn't be there either, and probably too much money is spent, but I'll still be tuning in this year hoping we see some more memorable performances.
peeeko
Roar Guru
great memories there John. i cant get excited these days about the olympics, its all about comparing medal tables and countries spending copoius amounts of money just to look good. Maybe it always has been and i was naive
John Coomer
Roar Guru
I was actually focusing on the Summer Olympics, but if I was including the Winter Games, Steve Bradbury would have had to make the list. I agree its a really inspiring story on many levels.
Tails
Guest
For me nothing beats Steven Bradbury. He was just pumped to make the finals. He didn't give himself a chance. He was never going to win but had the strategy to beat the field. Probably the best part is that he's been living off it every since. Great story of never give in, the impossible just might happen.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks Simon, I agree Matthew Mitcham's performance was incredible, especially that last pressure dive, which was a record. I certainly couldn't argue with his inclusion in a list like this. John
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Certainly can't argue with any of that list, some legendary performances there. Your 1988 choice motivated me to relive Lawrie Lawrence's reaction on YouTube, I found it at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oATItjGciw I hadn't seen it in years, it was great to watch it again. The relay in Sydney too was an incredible swim, and the way Steve Hooker handled the "3rd jump pressure" and won the pole vault in Beijing was brilliant.
Simon Massey
Roar Rookie
Great Australian Olympic memories - thanks for sharing John. I'd add Matthew Mitcham's Gold Medal in the 10m platform at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as another highlight. The Chinese won every other diving gold medal, and to beat them in front of their home crowd was immense. If I'm not mistaken, Mitcham's final dive is the single highest score in Olympic history. Bring on more memories in Rio.
Gurudoright
Guest
For me starting back at the 1984 L.A. Olympics as it is the first one I have memories of, it would be: 1984: Men's team pursuit cycling 1988: Duncan Armstrong, 200m Freestyle, possibly more for Laurie Lawrence after the swim than for Armstrong winning 1992: Kieren Perkins 1500m freestyle, the expectations on him were immense 1996: Men's Coxless four rowing (awesome foursome) going back to back Olympic gold medalist. I actually remember watching this in a night club and the DJ stop the music for the anthem 2000: Men's 4 x 100m freestyle relay. Watching the Aussies mocking American Gary Hall Jnr with his 'we will smash them like guitars' quote by playing air guitars after their victory. It was the first time in decades that the American had loss the event in a major swim meet 2004: Men's Hockey. After so many near misses this was sweet 2008: Steven Hooker, Pole Vault. It was our first field event gold medal in decades and Steven Hooker came off looking like a nice bloke 2012: Sally Pearson 110m Hurdles. She was the heart and soul of the team and achieved what she set out to do That's mine