It was always going to be a tall order and despite making history, the Australian women’s basketball team succumbed to the might and power of the star-studded USA team in the gold medal match.
They may have been beaten convincingly 76-54, but the team’s silver medal was Australia’s best-ever result at the Olympic Games and followed the bronze medal earned four years earlier at the Atlanta Olympics.
The USA jumped to an early advantage and despite Australia’s best efforts, the Americans opened up a commanding 43-30 half-time lead and never looked back.
Australia’s star 19-year old forward Lauren Jackson showed her class shooting a game high 20 points, while captain Michele Timms signed off on a decorated international career with another typical wholehearted performance.
Despite their disappointment in losing the gold medal decider, the experienced Rachel Sporn provided some perspective saying; “We have to remember we have created history. This is the best result we’ve ever had and I’m sure tomorrow we will realise the importance of a silver medal.”
The other Australian team in action, the men’s hockey team, captured the bronze medal with a thumping 6-3 victory over Pakistan.
After losing their semi-final two days earlier to the Netherlands in a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out after the scores were locked at nil-all at full-time and again after extra time, the Australians took out their frustrations on the Pakistani team.
The Kookaburra’s set the tone after only three minutes when Troy Elder slotted home after a Brent Livermore penalty corner.
Elder had a second goal after eight minutes and Stephen Davies managed a third for Australia to lead 3-1 at the break. Elder completed a hat-trick in the 60th minute to record a special individual milestone.
“Nothing will ever replace not making the gold medal play-off but for us this was the next best thing we could have done in the circumstances,” said coach Terry Walsh.
Elder said; “This was a great testament to the guys. It just shows what we can do and what the future holds for us.”
A further silver medal was won when Daniel Trenton was runner-up to Korea’s Kyong-Hun Kim in the taekwondo men’s heavyweight gold medal match.
Trenton earned his way through to the gold medal final with three strong victories, but was unable to match the Korean’s speed and agility in the decider and was defeated 6-2.
In the women’s time trial, Australian cyclist Anna Wilson finished an agonising fourth – her second fourth placing at the Games.
“It’s not really what I was hoping for out of the Games, but at least I was amongst it,” she said.
In athletics, Australia’s hopes for a medal in the women’s 4x400m relay were dashed when finishing fifth behind the USA, while the men’s 4x400m relay team finished eighth.
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