OLYMPIAN Ashley Brehaut says it feels a little different with his brother Stuart in Tokyo, at an Olympic Games without him.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Ballarat badminton duo reached the Olympics as athletes for the 2004 Athens Games. Stuart is settling into Tokyo as Australia's badminton head coach and is busy keeping his athletes focused in pandemic conditions.
"It will be interesting to hear his opinion," Ashley said. "From what he has been saying, it's a bus to training, staying away from everyone and back on the bus. You sit with three other people for dinner but the table is split by a cross of perspex...In Athens we had a big long table with all the other players...It's so different."
The brothers are among a decorated Ballarat Olympic badminton roll call with Murray Hocking (1996), Peter Blackburn (1996, 2000), Kellie Lucas (2000) and Erin Carroll (2008).
They grew up with their mum a passionate badminton player at Ken Kay Stadium and, after disrupting her social competition, found themselves in action on a court.
Ashley is a sports teacher in Melbourne and loves to bring out his Olympic uniform to show his pupils. He says this makes him "so cool" for a year or so until they forget.
"Hopefully it's inspiring for those kids," Ashley said. "I just want kids playing sport, whichever sport. You never know, one might be an Olympian too one day."
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.