Australia's Chef de Mission Geoff Lipshut has described the Australian Team competing at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games as the best he's been associated with, following a record medal haul and numerous results just off the podium.
Mr Lipshut says the Team formed a hugely close bond at the Beijing Games and represented their country with distinction.
However, he noted that the real mark of this campaign and the rise of Australian winter Olympic sport was illustrated by the disappointment of the medals that got away.
“The number of medal opportunities we had at these Games is far beyond anything I have experienced. Before these Games I said if we managed four medals, that would be fantastic because that’s unknown territory for an Australian Team. And it is fantastic.
“But the collective disappointment of those near misses illustrates how far we have come.
“In the meantime, this Australian Team has so much to be proud of. We have achieved;
- A record 4 medals
- A record seven Top-5 finishes
- A record nine Top-6 finishes
- A record equalling 15 Top-10 finishes
- Best ever results in the sliding sports of luge, skeleton and bobsleigh
- Our first gold in women's moguls
- Debuts in curling, monobob and big air
- Numerous personal bests and best Olympic results
Mr Lipshut says he was pleased to see the stories and efforts of the athletes was embraced by the Australian community back home.
“Channel Seven’s coverage has reached more than 12 million Australians as we enter the final days of competition and tomorrow night’s Closing Ceremony.
“The digital audience was amazing with 339 million minutes streamed which is up 273 percent on the PyeongChang Games four years ago. The AOC’s digital channels also reached 39 million people.
“I would also like to thank the athletes for the way they supported each other throughout this campaign. The unity was exceptional across the different sports and disciplines. This was a really good group of people.
“Everyone was realistic about the challenges we faced and they just got on with it. The athletes really enjoyed these Games.
“My thanks also to the team behind the Team who provided the athletes with the best possible high performance environment in our three allotments in Zhangjiakou Yanqing and Beijing.
“The attention to detail was immense and our three village environments worked really well across the three weeks of this campaign.
“And also the coaches and support teams behind every athlete – particularly our athletes’ families who have provided support not only for this campaign, but right through the careers of each of our Olympians in Beijing,” Mr Lipshut concluded.
