ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Queensland, Tasmania and to a much, much less extent Victoria and NSW are currently carrying the nation towards eternal sporting glory, leaving passenger states such as South Australia and our prosperous West to drag us down.
The pool has been the scene of fabled heroics from both Queenslanders and our Tasmanian cousins, showing the rest of the country (NSW) how to etch your name into history.
Kaylee McKeon and Mollie O’Callaghan, of Queensland, have won more gold than Newcrest can find in the entire state of Western Australian. From the sporting and athletic crucible of Launceston, Ariarne Titmus has achieved Olympic glory seldom seen in the history of the games.
The Gold Coast’s Elijah Winnington and the Garden City’s Christopher Burton have secured silver in the pool and the equestrian square. They have put their hand up and got the job done for their state and their nation.
Jessica Fox has overcome unbelievable odds, such as living in New South Wales, and won back to back golds for the nation. An incredible effort considering the disadvantage facing athletes from New South Wales.
Our first gold medal of the games when to Grace Brown, a Victorian champion. In the People’s Republic of Victoria, it’s uncommon for people to have cars. Getting around on bicycles and dilapidated public transport is the norm, which is how Grace got so good at riding on roads. Comrades say she is never late for anything. Jokes aside, a Titanic effort and a peformance that buoyed the nation at the dawn of another Olympics.
Forever humble in victory and defeat, Queensland will continue to lead from the front at these Olympics and onto the next – and then the one after that. We live in hope here in the Sunshine State that our southern and western cousins take inspiration from Queensland and dig deep.
More to come.
