AUSSIE SPORTSWOMEN MAKE A SPLASH!

2021 has been a golden year for Aussie sportswomen and their victories have lifted our spirits. For that, The Weekly says thank you!

- BEVERLEY HADGRAFT

While it’s been a dark year for those of us affected by COVID lockdowns, there has been a shining light – the opportunity to cheer and be cheered by our golden girls of sport.

Ash Barty won the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, Wimbledon; our cricket team beat India in a multi-series; Minjee Lee won her first golf major, and of course our Olympians and Paralympians gave us cause to celebrate day after day.

Not since the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 has Australia taken away more gold medals in the pool. “Three seconds ahead of the world! You just don’t see that!” marvelled Ian Thorpe as the 4x100m relay team smashed the 3 minute 30 second barrier for the first time ever.

Meanwhile, Ariarne Titmus didn’t just win the 200m and 400m freestyle at her first-ever Olympics – she did it by beating the world’s greatest ever female swimmer, Katie Ledecky.

And with the International Olympic Committee committed to gender equality, Jess Fox got to compete in the inaugural women’s C1 canoe slalom and won gold. We marveled as she kneeled in her tiny boat to spin it through the turbulent water and around 25 gates. There was more success in the water when our women won the rowing fours and Melissa Wu got bronze in the 10m diving, while, on dry land, we won medals in the women’s beach volleyball, high jump, and javelin.