With the world watching on, Bondies Elijah Winnington and Flynn Southam have done Australia proud in the opening days of the Paris Olympics, bringing home two silver and two bronze medals in the pool at the La Defense Arena.
On the rugby pitch Bull Shark Maddison Levi set a new Olympic record with 14 tries for the Australian 7s side that finished fourth while alumni Hayden Sargeant was a member of the men’s side that also finished fourth, the Australian Men’s best ever result at the Olympics.
In his first Olympics Southam, a Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholarship holder, took home silver in the men’s 4 X 100m freestyle relay, after a thrilling showdown between the victorious USA and Australia.
Southam the youngest of the team, swam the second leg alongside teammates Jack Cartwright and Kai Taylor, with Kyle Chalmers storming home for the Aussies.
Bachelor of Business student and Hancock Prospecting Swimming Excellence Scholarship holder, Winnington, also shone, taking home the silver medal in a gripping 400m freestyle final after turning on the jets in the final 50m, hitting the wall at 3:42.21.
It was Olympic redemption for Winnington who was bitterly disappointed with his campaign in Tokyo.
“I’m pretty stoked,” he said following the race.
“Coming off the back of Tokyo, I was in the same lane and I touched seventh there and to get second here (in Paris) is a massive achievement.
“I was fortunate enough to get a bronze medal in the heat of the 4 X 200m freestyle relay in Tokyo but I never opened the box, I never really felt like I deserved the medal.
“I wanted the first Olympic medal that I achieved, to be one that I felt like I earnt.
“I just wanted to go out there tonight and have fun.”
Winnington and Southam joined forces in the men’s 4 X 200m freestyle relay to finish with bronze behind Great Britan and the USA. They formed a team with Max Giuliani and Thomas Neil in which no swimmer was older than 24 years old.
“The potential is unlimited. Our average age is 21, which is just crazy. The future is enormous,” said Flynn.
“We’re so committed to this team and making Australia proud.”
In the Rugby 7s Olympic campaign, the Aussie women, featuring the Levi sisters Maddison and Teagan finished at the top of their Rugby 7 pool, but suffered two heartbreaking losses in the finals to miss out on a medal.
The men lost their bronze medal match to South Africa.
There is still plenty of action for Bondies with Ben Armbruster swimming his 50m freestyle heat tonight, August 1.
Bond’s kayaking brothers, Pierre and Jean van de Westhuyzen, hit the water for their Olympic campaign next week, with kayaking action starting Tuesday August 6 at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
Artistic swimmer, Kiera Gazzard has to wait until the final days of the Paris Olympics to kick off her campaign, with her first appearance in artistic swimming on Saturday August 10.