DAY 14

"I thought, 'You Know what? I'm going to win'." Chloe Esposito, Australia's first modern pentathlon gold medallist, reflecting on the first time she had such a positive thought, two months ago after winning the Hugarian championships.

“I probably made my break one lap too early… My legs were just shot. I couldn’t hold on.” Jared Tallent, silver medallist in the 50km walk, after being overtaken two kms from the finish by Slovakian Matej Toth.

“I wanted to be Olympic champion for more than a few months.” Tallent again, referring to the belated awarding of his London 2012 gold medal after a Russian drug cheat was stripped of the title.

"We've still got a chance to do something no other Australian team has done." Joe Ingles, after a crushing men's basketball loss to Serbia, looks ahead to the bronze medal play-off against Spain.

“Anything that puts the cat amongst the pigeons, that you can capitalise off, is great.” Stephen Bird revels in the rough conditions to paddle his way into the K1 200m final.

“It’s like a washing machine out there.” Ken Wallace enjoys the chop, too, as he and his K4 teammates qualify for the 1000m final.

“Absolutely gutted.” Hayder Shakra after losing his first round fight in taekwondo.

“I am going to celebrate with a block of chocolate.” Danielle Prince after a successful qualifying round in rhythmic gymnastics.

“It’s a shame when the horse gives everything. She’s probably never jumped something like this before so it’s a bit new for her as well.” Edwina Tops-Alexander after knocking one rail in the final round to finish ninth in individual show jumping.

“Putting is hard. I backed away so many times because of the gusts.” Su Oh after shooting a 66 to stay alongside compatriot Minjee Lee within five shots of a bronze medal in golf.

DAY 13

“I probably made my break one lap too early… My legs were just shot. I couldn’t hold on.” Jared Tallent, silver medallist in the 50km walk, after being overtaken two kms from the finish by Slovakian Matej Toth.

“I wanted to be Olympic champion for more than a few months.” Tallent again, referring to the belated awarding of his London 2012 gold medal after a Russian drug cheat was stripped of the title.

“Anything that puts the cat amongst the pigeons, that you can capitalise off, is great.” Stephen Bird revels in the rough conditions to paddle his way into the K1 200m final.

“It’s like a washing machine out there.” Ken Wallace enjoys the chop, too, as he and his K4 teammates qualify for the 1000m final.

“Absolutely gutted.” Hayder Shakra after losing his first round fight in taekwondo.

“I am going to celebrate with a block of chocolate.” Danielle Prince after a successful qualifying round in rhythmic gymnastics.

“It’s a shame when the horse gives everything. She’s probably never jumped something like this before so it’s a bit new for her as well.” Edwina Tops-Alexander after knocking one rail in the final round to finish ninth in individual show jumping.

“Putting is hard. I backed away so many times because of the gusts.” Su Oh after shooting a 66 to stay alongside compatriot Minjee Lee within five shots of a bronze medal in golf.

DAY 12

“I learned I belong out there and that I can match it with the best jumpers in the world.” Brooke Stratton after finishing seventh in the women’s long jump, the first Aussie finalist since Bronwyn Thompson in Athens in 2004.

“It’s been 17 years for me of slogging away for this hour and a half.” – Josh Robinson on competing in the javelin at the Olympics.

“We’ve always known he’s the real deal Delly… he prepares and cares more than anyone I’ve ever seen.” Australia's NBA pioneer and men’s basketball team assistant coach Luc Longley on Matthew Dellavedova after Australia’s victory over Lithuania secured a semi-final berth.

“That was the perfect pace for me.” Brett Robinson after making the men’s 5000m final.

“She’s still on fire, still got plenty of energy in her.” Wina Tops-Alexander on her mare Lintea Tequila after she and Matt Williams qualified for the individual show jumping final.

“I just try to focus on myself. I dive better when I block it (the competition) out.” Three-time Olympian Melissa Wu after qualifying for the women’s 10m springboard final.

“I don’t think you can win the tournament on the first day but you can play yourself out of it.” Minjee Lee after three late birdies kept her within four shots of the round one lead in women’s golf.

“If Copa beach can turn on a wave and some chop that will suit us Aussies.” Ryan Bailie assessing the Rio triathlon.

“The first fight is usually one of the toughest ones… the crowd got me through.” Safwan Khalil on the Aussie crowd support that helped him advance to the taekwondo quarter-finals.

“Dellavedova is one of the most talented players I’ve played alongside and he has the highest basketball IQ of anyone I think I have ever met.” Men’s basketball bench-man Damian Martin on first-time teammate Matthew Dellavedova.

DAY 11

“The amount of hours I have put into this, the sacrifices I have made; not going to my sister’s wedding, skipping the Opening Ceremony to try and get a good result and it’s all perfect now.” Sailor Tom Burton after winning gold.

"It feels like you are a gladiator going out to war.” Ella Nelson after setting a personal best that left her one hundredth of a second short of becoming Australia’s first women’s 200m finalist since Cathy Freeman and Melinda Gainsford in 2000.

“We ticked our goal, we made our final, and while it didn’t play out as planned, we’re rapt and stoked to mix with the big girls on the big stage. Kayaker Alyce Burnett after making the K2 500m final with partner Alyssa Bull.

“Michael Klim (had a saying when he hit the wall) it was like he had a Grand Piano fall on him; I don’t know what fell on me but it was more than the Grand Piano.” Jarrod Poort after his brave 10km open water swim.

“We need to make this sport sexy. Maybe Jarrod’s the man to do it.”  Ron McKeon on the way Jarrod Poort swam his 10km open water race.

 

DAY 10

“I ride hard and race to the best of my ability and put myself in a position to win in those races, but for the first time in 22 years I couldn’t get any more out of my body.” Our darling of the cycling track Anna Meares after finishing 10^th in the women’s sprint.

“I probably didn’t really realise the significance of winning the gold medal and what I have done this week.” Gold medallist in swimming’s 400m freestyle, Mack Horton.

“I didn’t know many of the guys either which probably helped me in a way as well because I haven’t really followed swimming a whole lot.” Horton’s fellow gold medallist Kyle Chalmers admitted. He was too busy following AFL and dreaming of being a star in that sport.

“There’s no “I” in this team. We’ve worked so hard to become a unit and team – we eat, sleep, live together for months on end so it will only bring this team together. I truly believe that. You learn more from your losses than you do your wins and that’s something that we can hopefully take into the future.” Our water polo team’s Rowie Webster after they were beaten in a penalty shoot-out against Hungary in the quarter-final.

“There’s not much you can do. It’s a lottery. Goalie jumps one side, you hit the post. I don’t agree with penalty shoot-outs because it makes one person feel bad. It’s a team sport and I’d prefer to play extra time and I’ve said that all the time.” Women’s water polo coach Greg McFadden.

“I think that’s it for me. Definitely [my] last Olympics. I put everything I had into the last six months or so in the lead up to Rio, always, I think, in the back of my mind knowing this would be it.” Women’s hockey team captain Madonna Blyth after the side were knocked out in the quarter-final round by New Zealand.

“You can’t have the fairytale finishes when you want them.” Blyth after the 4-2 loss to the Kiwis.

 

DAY 9

"Certainly the support from home really helped me when the going got tough. I was thinking of the messages from schools and I had a really nice one from my brother and sister last night..were going through my mind. An endurance race like a marathon you have so much time to think that those messages really do help spur you on." Jessica Trengove after finishing 22nd in the women's marathon.

"I think in these conditions in this weather you really need a horse that has a lot of blood and gives you that extra power. She’s a mare with a lot of quality and she’s very sure of herself." Edwina Tops-Alexander on her horse Lintea Tequila after producing a clear round in the show jumping.

“Suddenly my putter deserted me for a few holes.” Golfer Marcus Fraser after finishing fifth.

"Obviously (it's) physical strength and building that machine, but the motor, the mongrel, the magic - everything is coming together.” BMX rider Caroline Buchanan ahead of her competition starting on Wednesday.

“I lost it for a second – it was such a special moment.” Louise Bawden after she and partner Taliqua Clancy reached the beach volleyball quarter-finals with a three-set win over Poland.

“Probably won’t watch to be honest. I don’t think I can handle it, we’ll see how I go. I’ll wait for the phone to ring I think.” Leading water polo goal scorer Aaron Younger, after Australia defeated Greece but had to rely on other results to advance to the quarter-finals.

 

DAY 8

“Oh, you’re kidding. Really? Wow. Double whammy. I didn’t know that. That’s brilliant.” Cyclist Anna Meares after winning Keirin bronze and being told she is now the only Australian ever to win individual medals at four Olympics.

“If I did that I would have missed out on my 11th world title, I would have missed out on breaking the world record for the 500, I would have missed out on my sixth Olympic medal and I would have missed out on being the flag bearer for the Australia team.” Meares on why she battled on to Rio instead of retiring on top of her sport after London 2012.

"I gave my all and my all wasn’t a gold or a silver or a bronze – but it’s not nothing." Swimmer Bronte Campbell after she finished 7th in the 50m freestyle.

"Port Lincoln where I grew up is going nuts, they’re thinking of naming the leisure centre after me and there’s talk of a statue going up next to Makybe Diva on the foreshore – so if a few of those went to plan that would be awesome." Dual Olympic medallist Kyle Chalmers on celebrations in his South Australian hometown.

“You imagine that moment so many times that crossing the line I couldn’t work out whether that was actually it or whether that was my imagination.” Kim Brennan after winning gold in rowing’s single sculls.

"I saw Jamie Dwyer the other day." Kookaburras midfielder Eddie Ockenden when asked who was the most famous athlete he had seen at the Olympic village.

“A bit scrappy.” Marcus Fraser describing his one over par third round, but he remains in bronze medal position going into the last of the Olympic golf tournament.

“I have never had a pool like this ever before, I just close my eyes and my mouth.” Maddison Keeney on the green water at the diving pool.

“The most brutal nine and a half minutes of your life.” Genevieve LaCaze gives an insight into the 3000m steeplechase.

"It's one of those things that can happen in rapid fire but it's just a shame it happened during the Olympic Games." Skeet shooter David Chapman, whose pistol jammed in his final series which resulted in a score of 76 when he had been averaging in the low 90s.

“We’re getting better each game we play.” Coach Brendan Joyce after the women’s basketball team defeated Serbia to finish undefeated on top of their pool.

“You have to be mentally ready and calm because when you are too nervous you are literally wrestling with yourself.” Vladimir Popov, 1988 Seoul Olympics bronze medallist and father of Aussie wrestler Ivan.

“It was an amazing effort … courageous and resilient. We’re all proud of our players and how they represented their country.” Coach Alen Stajcic after Australia’s women’s football team, at one point a kick away from victory, was eliminated by Brazil in a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out.

“There were some real highs and some real lows this week but we managed to pull it together when it mattered … and that is what the Aussie spirit is all about.” Swimmer Cate Campbell after adding a medley relay silver medal on the last night to her gold in the 4x100m on the first night.

“A medley really is always fun. We said before the race that we wanted to go out there and do our best job and finish off our last swim in Rio as a fun one that we are going to remember.” Emily Seebohm after the women’s medley relay swim that had a silver lining.

“He’s a good friend of mine so very happy for him he deserves it. We’re actually holidaying after this together in Italy, so I guess he can buy dinner for a couple of nights.” Mack Horton about his close mate and 1500m gold medal winner, Gregorio Paltrinieri.

 

DAY 7

“And I’ve just looked at my watch and I’ve done a bloody PB as well. I just can’t believe it. I’m stoked. I just want to find my family.” Dane Bird-Smith after winning bronze in the 20km men's walk on the opening day of athletics.

“I was just told that by Bruce McAvaney, which was pretty special, in Bruce’s words. It made me burst into tears." Eloise Wellings on learning she had recorded the best performance by an Australian woman in the Olympic 10,000m. 

“It’s so much a part of my story that I’ve had 11 stress fractures in my 10 years ...  I'm definitely keen to go on after this year and go to Comm Games … maybe have another baby in between … then hopefully Tokyo.” Weliings again.

"It's terrible to accept something like this at the Olympic Games. Shelley had it pretty much under control; I don't know what the judges were looking for." Australian Olympic assistant boxing coach Don Abnett.

“It’s been incredibly tough but in saying that the support I have received has been overwhelming and that’s what really touched me, I don’t think I have ever received so many messages of support, and people have come up and called me a legend when I’ve felt like an idiot which I think is the highest of compliments, having the nicest thing anyone said to me was and I can’t remember who it was but they said ‘people love gold medals but they love people more’ but to hear that was really, really touching for me.” An emotional Cate Campbell after qualifying second fastest for the women's 50m free. 

"If someone told me I'd be in this position at the start I'd have told them where to go." Marcus Fraser, halfway leader in the first Olympic golf tournament for 112 years.

“I would be lying if I (I said) I wasn’t bitterly disappointed.” Anna Meares after coming agonisingly close to a bronze medal in cycling’s team sprint.

“To do eight years and to get two silver medals is frustrating but we didn’t leave one bit to spare in that final.” Jack Bobridge after winning a second consecutive silver medal in the men’s team pursuit.

“We wanted to make sure we collected ourselves and were standing tall and aware of what we've done and how proud everyone is.” Joshua Dunkley-Smith on the men’s rowing four’s post-race huddle after winning silver.

"The judges saw it differently to us. It’s a hard pill to swallow.” Australian assistant boxing coach Don Abnett after Shelley Watts suffered a shock preliminary round elimination in a 2-1 split decision.

“You try not to idolise her because you’ve got to race her but what she’s doing is really, really great." 800m free finalist Jessica Ashwood on world record-breaking US rival Katie Ledecky.

"I want to finish my career off knowing I've done the best race possible." A determined Belinda Hocking vows to swim another day after finishing 5th in the 200m backstroke final.

 

DAY 6

“I mean, yes it's disappointing seeing we came fourth on the scoreboard but we are at the Olympics and we rode our hearts out for our country and we can’t do much more than that.” A philosophical Matt Glaetzer after the sprint track cycling trio was pipped for bronze.

“Everyone says ‘it’s the Olympics, you want to rise to the occasion’ and that right there was a great example of how strong Aussies can be.” Melissa Hoskins, who, despite requiring crutches to walk around the velodrome and standing alonside battered and bruised teammates, got on her bike to help Australia qualify for the women's team pursuit finals.

“The only one missing now is the gold medal. I’m more motivated than ever. And I am the fittest I’ve ever been and I was paddling well." Jessica Fox after adding bronze in Rio today to her silver won in the 2012 London Games.

“They’ll wake up in a state of shock to see their old man is leading the Olympics.” Marcus Fraser, speaking of his kids back home in Melbourne, after shooting a 63 to lead the Olympic golf tournament.

“Every week we play for ourselves in normal tournaments, but this week we’re playing for our country first and ourselves second.” Fraser on making history as the first Australian to hit a ball in Olympic golf.

“I’ve always said, as you get older I think you get more fearful of what can and can’t happen. And when you’re younger you just go out and have fun. I think if we can all enhance our little, inner-Kyle, I think we’ll all do really well!” Swimmer Belinda Hocking on Kyle Chalmers unsuspected win the men's 100m freestyle.

“I don’t know about that; you might need to talk to my wife! It’s a big commitment, we’ve had a lot of family prop us up for a lot of years of preparation and it's probably time to give back to them.” Karsten Forsterling when asked if he would continue through to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Forsterling’s silver in the men’s quadruple sculls.

“Obviously you want to change results but to be honest I wouldn’t change anything about that race. We were all out there and we were all going for gold and that’s the most exciting thing!" Bronte Barratt following the women's 100m freestyle final. 

“It’s not about winning at the Olympic Games, it’s about trying to win. The motto is faster, higher, stronger, not fastest, highest, strongest. Sometimes it’s the trying that matters and so I think everyone that got out there and pursued their dreams is a little bit of a victor tonight.” Barratt again.

“Like I’ve said many times before, the 50 free is one of my fun events. I was behind the blocks and I guess if you probably look at the footage I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I was facing towards the coaches’ box in the corner and Tommy Fraser-Holmes and Travis Mahoney and a lot of the Aussie members were down there cheering me on. I’m going to remember that moment it was pretty cool to be there, even if it wasn’t the best end result that I could’ve hoped for." Cameron McEvoy following his 50m freestyle semi-final.

 

DAY 5

“I love the sting. I didn’t have any more to give.” New Olympic 100 metres freestyle champion Kyle Chalmers on his powerful finishes.

“I was that excited. To be honest I almost vomited.” Chalmers explains what it meant to him to bump into his US basketball hero Kevin Durant in Rio.

“He’s got the world at is feet right now.” Chalmers’ teammate and roomie Cameron McEvoy, more fancied to win, hides his own disappointment after finishing seventh to praise his mate.

“He's such a cool little dude in there, he never runs out of energy." Dressage rider Mary Hanna was thrilled with her horse Boogie Woogie's personal best result. 

“I heard a little crack, it didn’t sound great.” Road cyclist Rohan Dennis describes the moment his handlebar broke, ending his hopes of a medal.

“It never feels as effortless as it looks." Cate Campbell following what appeared to be an effortless Olympic Record in the women's 100m freestyle.

“I had a bit of a tear as the realisation settled in that there’s a chance I missed a medal there.” Swimmer Mitch Larkin admits to getting emotional referring to his 100m backstroke final.

“I think I left my fireworks at home this morning but I’ll bring them back tonight and let them off and see if it’s good enough to make it through to the final tomorrow night.” Josh Beaver following his men's 200m backstroke heat.

“We knew going into the game the way to compete with them was to do it collectively.” Patty Mills sums up the team-first mentality that saw the Aussies take the game to the USA.

 

DAY 4

“I’m just so happy and so relieved. Like relieved that it is over because I did put a lot of pressure on myself in the 200 freestyle because I feel like that’s where my potential is. I just feel so happy that I could get a bronze medal.” 200m freestyle bronze medallist Emma McKeon

“I was just so happy that I got to share that moment with Bronte Barratt. I train with her back at home and we both put in a lot of work, also the fact that she got bronze in London, so that was pretty special to be with her for that.” McKeon again.

“I was crying my eyes out.” An emotional Bronte Barratt on her final individual swim at an Olympics.

"We’ve only had about two hours sleep.  We're still on a massive high...I don't think we're going to be sleeping until we get home.” Charlotte Caslick on the celebrations following the Australian women's rugby sevens team gold medal match win over New Zealand.

"They are five outstanding athletes; yes we are one down now, but we are down, but we are not out." Women’s track endurance team's head coach Gary Sutton praising the spirits of the team following a nasty crash on the track.

“We have relied heavily on Liz the first two games and she’s performed, so dominant on the inside, and when she got into some foul trouble we needed our guards to step up a little." Women's basketball captain Penny Taylor after shooting 31 points in her team's 79-81 victory over France which keeps them unbeaten after three games. 

“Last night we were dreaming of the gold medal … but I led the Olympic Games going into the show jumping and that’s something I won’t be forgetting in a hurry.” Chris Burton after winning a bronze medal in the team three-day event and fading from first to fifth in the individual title.

“It’s a sport of fine margins and I was just the wrong side of it today. The irony is I was beaten by a guy from NSW who now represents the USA.” Sam Griffiths after narrowly missing out on an individual bronze to Phil Dutton in equestrian.

“In London I came out all guns blazing not really knowing what I was doing. Now I’m four years older, four years wiser and a lot more experience under my belt.” 25-year-old archer Taylor Worth who moved into the final 16 in the individual event after winning bronze in the teams event.

“The key for us is to get into the quarter-finals. We will play a tough team regardless if we make it.” Australian rugby sevens coach Andy Friend.

 

DAY 3

“We scored a goal with nine players. That’s not ordinary. That’s exceptional." Australian women's hockey head coach Adam Commens following the Aussies loss to the USA.

“For a horse with very little blood in his breeding, he is a rocket." Equestrian rider Chris Burton on his horse Santano II.

"I’ve rung every little last bit out of myself, and tried to draw the best out of others as well, and I guess when you finish up that’s all you can really hope for.” Rower Kerry Hore after bowing out in the repechage. 

“We’re going out there to win the game. I think we’ve got a team that is focused on that and we believe we can do some special things in this tournament.” Joe Ingles looks ahead to the Australian men’s basketball team’s clash with the USA ‘Dream Team’.

 

DAY 2

“I just wanted to see those little targets smash.” Women’s trap gold medallist, Australia’s Catherine Skinner, reveals how she stayed focused in the  gold medal match.

“Even now I am still amazed I have got this in my hand.” Skinner again on what it meant to win gold.

“We both feel like we’re dreaming and it’s not really real because we thought we weren’t really in with a medal chance after our first couple of dives. But we obviously just had fun there and we hung in the whole time." Anabelle Smith reflects on her bronze medal performance with Maddison Keeney in the 3m synchronised springboard event.

“I’m Team Cam, all the way. I was Team Cam last year on my couch and I’ll be Team Cam in the stands with my pom poms and mini skirt this time around (laughs). Always Team Cam.” There's no doubt James Magnussen will be supporting his teammate Cam McEvoy.

"Personally I am disappointed that I didn’t have the legs in the end to match it with the top girls on the climb.It is the Olympic Games, you want to have big performance, and I did everything I could today. I am disappointed, but I don’t have any regrets.  I am extraordinarily proud to be standing here in the green and gold." Australian cyclist Rachel Neylan reflects on a brutal road race.

“It is quite heartbreaking, especially considering this is the Olympic Games.”  Lucien Delfour laments a controversial ruling that ended his K1 cammpaign.

"I didn't hold anything back. I really went for it. Now I just feel like getting back out there and doing gym training. What's upsetting is knowing I have the potential to be in the finals if I hit my routines." Gymnast Larrissa Miller has added motivation to return for a third Olympics.

 

DAY 1

“This is something we’ve dreamed of since we were two little girls. It’s something we play-acted in the pool on a summer afternoon.” Bronte Campbell, after she and older sister Cate brought home Australia’s victorious 100m freestyle relay team.

“Now it will be back to normal. We race against each other all the time, so it is normal to race against her.” Cate Campbell on the prospect of competing against her sister in the 50m and 100m freestyle.

“I am not racing against Cate. I am racing against myself. I still like to think of it as me and Cate against the world.” Bronte Campbell.

“That last 25 metres and the last 15 metres felt like I had concrete blocks on my arms. Then I kind of flashed back to my statement this morning and thought I don’t really have a choice in letting him beat me, I have to beat him now. So that is what I did.” Mack Horton after defeating China’s Sun Yang in the 400m freestyle.

“I have no time or respect for drug cheats.” Australian distance swimming star Mack Horton on China's defending gold medallist Sun Yang following a run-in at training earlier in the week.

“Macca, I don’t think I am in for the time trial.” Cyclist Richie Porte’s first words to Australian head coach Brad McGee following a crash during the men’s road race which left Porte with a suspected broken collarbone and ribs.

“Sometimes I just look at what Liz does on the court and I shake my head.” Basketballer Penny Taylor in awe of teammate Liz Cambage, who starred in the Australian women’s basketball team’s win over Brazil.

“I'm going to quote Kanye here: ‘screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it." Basketballer Liz Cambage on how the Aussies used the enthusiastic support for the home team to rally their own performance.

"The last dunk, I thought I'd get up a bit higher.” Basketballer Andrew Bogut showing his athleticism with five dunks against France despite his knee injury.

"It has really sunk in yet but it feels awesome and I can only imagine it will get better from here." Archer Alec Potts, 20, on winning Australia's first medal at the Games, a bronze in the archery team event.

“To play in the Olympic Games is special, to be in the record books is ridiculous." Tennis player John Millman on becoming the first men’s singles player in Olympic history to win to love.