Australia olympic games tokyo 20209/7/2023 After the high point of Beijing (six from six – two golds), Australia’s relay stars have continued to deliver. In Athens it was three from six, including two golds. Suddenly the United States had competition.Īt the 2000 Olympics, Australia went five from six in the relays, including two golds. But it was particularly true in the relay. This was true generally – Talbot was coaching the Dolphins when they famously surpassed the Americans in the medal tally at the 2001 world championships. Following Talbot’s death last year, a swimming website headlined his obituary, “ Legend Who Led Green & Gold Past Stars & Stripes”. With the exception of a relay win under the Olympic flag at the boycotted 1980 Games in Moscow, Australia would not win another relay gold until the next home Games at Sydney 2000.īy then, Don Talbot was in charge, and the legendary swim coach had put a major focus on relay success. In the second half of the century, arch-rivals the United States reigned supreme in the relay. While an Australasian team (combining Australia and New Zealand) won the second-ever men’s 4x200m in 1912, it took four and a half decades for the nation to claim gold again – albeit twice, at the home 1956 Olympics. Photograph: Stuart Hannagan/Getty Imagesįor Australia, relay swimming was not a priority. The 4x100 medley relay was added in 1960. In the subsequent century, both races remained an integral part of the Olympic swim meet (albeit with some gender discrimination – the women could not race the 4x200m until 1996). It was replaced by the 4x200m relay in 1908, before the women had a 4x100m freestyle relay added to the program in 1912. At the 1904 Olympics in St Louis, the third modern Games, the men contested the 4x50 yard freestyle relay. Relays have long been a feature of the Olympic swimming program. Australia has responded by throwing time, money and dedicated research at the relay format, in the hope of boosting the nation’s swimmers to team glory. Relays are tactically complex, high-pressure events where the smallest mistake can lead to disqualification. It would be quite the achievement.īut Australia’s success in Olympic relays is about more than just good fortune and fast individual swimmers. If the Australians can find themselves on the podium in all three, they will surpass their relay medal haul in Beijing. The Tokyo 2020 swim program will then conclude on Sunday with the 4x100 medley relay for both men and women. On Saturday, the Dolphins will be under pressure to continue the streak – as the mixed 4x100m medley relay makes its debut, the first-time a combined men’s and women’s relay event has featured at the Olympics. “We’ve made a very big priority within our preparation.” “Relays to me are the greatest thing to be a part of,” Taylor said.
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