Four words when I was nine shaped my Olympic dream
When it comes to the Olympic Games, my story is similar to many children of the nineties – growing from a fascination to a full blown addiction after Juan Antonio Samaranch uttered those four fateful words: ‘The winner is, Sydney.”
I had just turned nine and, although it was 4.27am when the announcement was made, I was up out of bed with my parents, drinking in the excitement shared across Australia as we were given the keys to an Olympic Games to be held seven years in the future.
By the time Sydney 2000 rolled around, I was 16, finishing year 10 at high school in my home town of Armidale, and a sports nut trying to figure out how to make a dollar stretch as far as it could so I could go to as many events as possible.
From the moment Mr. Samaranch uttered those famous four words, my life has been set on a path that was intrinsically linked with the Olympics, so I can’t express how much pride I feel to be playing a small role in bringing Paris 2024 to life for all Australians.
We’re now just 100 days away from the opening ceremony, and already Wide World of Sports’ Olympic and Paralympic Games Reporter Zachary Gates is telling some incredible stories about the athletes who will shape the narrative of sport’s most iconic event.
To mark the 100 days milestone, Zac has traced the incredible rise of Mary Fowler, who has rapidly become one of Australia’s most recognisable athletes and will spearhead the Matildas’ quest for a first Olympic medal. He has also spoken to swimming golden girl Emma McKeon’s coach Michael Bohl to find out how much life has changed for her since she became our most decorated Olympian in history with a phenomenal performance in Tokyo.
There’ll be more gold to come for McKeon and a swimming team that is shaping as our greatest of all time, with Nine commentator Giaan Rooney predicting our Dolphins to scale new heights in Paris in a piece, again put together by Zac, who spoke to several experts to pin down the Aussies most likely to win gold medals this year.
At the moment we’re in preview mode but the next 100 days will pass in a flash. Before you know it our athletes will be assembling in Paris, ready to do our nation proud, and we at Nine will be there with them, bursting with pride as we share with you the stories that make kids like my nine-year-old self fall in love with the Olympic Games.
