The Olympics are done and dusted for another four years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite some safety concerns, some initial hitches in accommodation for the athletes, murky waters in the diving pool and collapsing camera equipment, Rio put on a pretty spectacular show over the last two weeks.
There were some stand-outs of the Rio Olympics, like the medal hauls from Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt and American swimmer Michael Phelps.
But Ballarat’s own legion of sportsmen and woman can hold their head high and feel proud of their own achievements, particular race walker Jared Tallent, who scored himself a silver medal in the gruelling 50-kilometre race walk.
The avid campaigner for drug-free sports, Tallent was beaten across the finish line by a mate, Slovakian Matej Toth, after his legs gave way with the finish line in sight.
Tallent was made to wait four years for his last gold medal, awarded retrospectively after being beaten by a drug cheat at the London Olympics.
He now stands as Australia's most successful male athlete, with one Olympic gold, two silver and a bronze. He won two medals in Beijing - silver in the 50km and bronze in the 20km.
And the 32-year-old has no plans to retire, aiming to compete again in Tokyo in four years.
But Jared Tallent wasn’t the only athlete at the Rio Olympics to have strong links to Ballarat and district.
There was also his sister and fellow race walker, Rachel Tallent, Maryborough basketballer Matthew Dellavedova, rower Lucy Stephan, javelin thrower Kathryn Mitchell, runners Selma Kajan, Brett Robinson and Ryan Gregson and steeplechaser Victoria Mitchell.
Rachel Tallent made her Olympic debut in the 20km walk early Saturday morning and finished 40th.
Kathryn Mitchell narrowly missed out on a medal, with a sixth in the women’s javelin.
Victoria Mitchell made her appearance in a 3000m steeplechase heat. She finished 10th, but unfortunately did not qualify for the final.
Lucy Stephan’s Olympic campaign came to an end when the women’s rowing eight finish fifth of five in a repechage.
Ballarat was right behind each and every one of these athletes and we couldn’t be prouder.
Bring on Tokyo 2020.