Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise as Labor's shadow minister for sport to thank and congratulate Australia's Olympic team. The Tokyo Games will perhaps be remembered as the toughest ever, due to the challenges of COVID-19. Despite this, our Olympians have won 17 gold medals, equalling Australia's best haul, with an overall medal tally of 46—our third highest ever. I congratulate the 99 Australian athletes to bring home a medal, all 486 athletes to wear green and gold in Tokyo, and our support crew. Australia is extremely proud of you. You've entertained us, inspired us and brought us joy. You've brought us together in spirit when many of us cannot be face to face.

There are so many magic moments to celebrate on and in the water, including Emma McKeon becoming Australia's most successful Olympian; on the bikes; on the skateboards, surfboards and horses—with Keegan Palmer's skateboarding gold and Owen Wright's surfing bronze being Australia's first-ever Olympic medals in those sports; on the basketball, beach volleyball and tennis courts—another first, with our Boomers earning Australia's first Olympic medal in men's basketball; in the track and field, where Ashley Moloney won our first Olympic decathlon medal; and, of course, on the hockey pitch. And inspiring moments beyond the podium were many, from Peter Bol's magnificent 800-metres runs to Cedric Dubler's selfless spurring on of Ashley Moloney to decathlon bronze. I now look forward to the Paralympics, where our Australian team, I'm sure, will again do Australia proud, and to Brisbane 2032, an exciting opportunity for all Australian sports and the nation.