It’s the glamorous, successful, über sporty Girl Next Door — times three! Beijing’s Olympic flame may be extinguished, but Australia’s pool queens shine brighter than ever in the September Weekly.
Take a look at the greatest Australian female Olympians of all time here
Olympic darlings Leisel Jones, Libby Trickett and Stephanie Rice dazzle in gold on our cover and share their stories with former Olympian Rose Fydler.
It’s sweet déjà vu. These Beijing heroines are accustomed to the spotlight after making a splash at the greatest athletic contest on earth.
In the tradition of the motto of the father of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, “Swifter, higher, stronger”, our aquatic golden girls delighted themselves, thrilled fellow Aussies and put an awestruck world on notice.
While our men historically dominate the pool, this is the first time since 1976 that women have brought home all the gold.
For Leisel, winning gold in the 100m breaststroke was a moment to savour in her third Olympic campaign, after years of self-doubt. “I’ve gone from a naive 14-year-old to an under-pressure 18-year-old and here I am, a relieved 22-year-old. I’m so happy to be able to call myself an Olympic gold medallist,” she says, jubilantly.
“While it’s been hard, the journey to get here has been the best part because I’ve grown as a person. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Throwing her victor’s bouquet to fiancé Marty Pask in the crowd was a given, as was her vow: “This gold medal is for all the true believers, for those who have stuck by me. I’m eternally grateful.”
Redemption of a sort, too, for wonder sprinter Libby, 23, who missed out on gold in 2004. “My ultimate dream was to win an individual gold medal at an Olympics, so it seems there is a weight off me now,” Libby says, with a smile. “I can walk away a very proud and happy person.”
Stephanie, too, feels the gravity of making history at her first Olympics. “Winning gold was something I’ve dreamt about for a long time and was obviously my ultimate goal,” she says.
Stephanie now joins swimming legend Shane Gould as the only female Australian swimmer to win more than one individual gold medal at an Olympic Games.
To Warren Rice, who witnessed his daughter’s joyful yells after touching the wall a winner, she’s a girl in a million. “I don’t love her any more just because she has an Olympic gold medal, but I’m just so very proud,” he says, echoing the thoughts of many. On the Olympic roll of honour, these three are solid gold.
Take a look at the greatest Australian female Olympians of all time here
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