With well under half the population, Australia will likely beat Team GB in the medal tally for the first time in 20 years
t is one of the most intense and multifaceted rivalries in world sport: the English, or sometimes the British, against their former colony Australia. From cricket to rugby to track cycling to lawn bowls, duels between British and Australian teams and athletes have been a defining feature of many international sporting events for over a century.
More recently, the narrative has shifted. The awarding of the 2012 Games galvanised British interest, and lottery funding, for Olympic sports. At the 2008 Olympics, the British surged ahead. Then on home soil, team GB won a mammoth 29 gold medals – 21 ahead of the Australians, who languished in eighth. The British did even better in ranking terms at Rio, finishing second, their most successful Games in over a century.
Australia’s squad were unheralded, following a lean spell for Australian track cycling. But at the velodrome, the green and gold quartet shocked the world – qualifying first, two-tenths of a second faster than the British, and then breaking the world record in the first round.. The kings of the team pursuit for so long, against the nation that had so often been left with silver.
On the penultimate day in Paris, legendary track cyclist Anna Meares – Australia’s chef de mission at the Games – was asked about the rivalry. It is a thing Meares knows about first-hand, having long battled with British track queen Victoria Pendleton. That rivalry reached its height at the London Olympics, when Meares upset Pendleton in the sprint gold medal round.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Colony that conquered: how Australia’s golden Olympics outshone Great Britain in ParisDespite having half the population, Australia’s gold rush at these Games will likely see them beat Team GB in the medal tally for the first time in 20 years
Read more »
Hockeyroos make huge Olympic statement and smash Great Britain 4-07NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
How Great Britain claimed Olympic cricket glory in Paris 124 years agoClassically English game has featured at the Olympics once, and British team will defend their title at Los Angeles 2028
Read more »
RFL considering reviving Great Britain Lions brand to replace England for tourSenior rugby league officials are considering reviving the Great Britain brand to replace England for next year’s tour of Australia
Read more »
Brisbane news live: Australia’s record gold medal haul; Great Barrier Reef scientist incredulousThe latest news in and around Brisbane.
Read more »
Australia's South Korean adoption partner falsified adoptee records to bring children to AustraliaAnna reached adulthood believing she was an orphan. Then the truth came out.
Read more »