Following Australia’s two gold, one silver and one bronze medal a day earlier, the Sydney Games was now officially Australia’s most successful Olympic Games in history with the prospect of more medals to come.
However, Australia’s medal tally did not advance on this day, but there were some near medal misses.
In the women’s road race, Anna Wilson cycled over 120 kilometres, often in heavy rain over an energy-sapping three hour period, only to be deprived of the bronze medal by a measly half a wheel when pipped for a place on the podium by Lithuania’s Diana Ziliute.
The gold medal was won by Holland’s Leontien Zijlaard who captured an unprecedented triple gold medal feat when also winning the individual road time trial and the track individual pursuit. She also earned a silver medal in the women’s points race.
Australia’s Jelena Dokic had medal aspirations, but these hopes were extinguished in just under an hour when defeated 6-1, 6-4 by USA’s Monica Seles in a rain interrupted bronze medal play-off match.
“Monica played really well, particularly on her serve – she hardly missed a thing,” said Dokic.
In diving, Dean Pullar faced stiff competition in the men’s 3m Platform and performed admirably to finish in fifth position.
The men’s hockey team’s gold medal quest was kept alive when recording an important 2-1 win over Korea to earn a semi-final berth.
The Kookaburra’s trailed 1-0, but goals to Craig Victory and Jay Stacy was enough to see the Australians through and top their pool. They were destined to play Holland in the semi-final round.
“We were very slow in our build-up. They scored early and made it even tougher, but we dominated in the second half quite clearly,” said coach Terry Walsh.
Striker Troy Elder said; “I don’t think we have to change anything in the semis - we just have to be persistent and get out there and have a go.”
There was disappointment for the men’s water polo team when narrowly beaten 6-5 by Italy to set up a make-or-break game with Spain a day later to qualify for the quarter-finals.
The weightlifting competition ended with no medals to Australia, but the 12-member team, including four women, completed the Games breaking 15 Commonwealth and Australian records.
Medal hopes were raised at Penrith with Australian paddlers Clint Robinson (K1 1000), the women’s K4 500 crew and the men’s K2 and K4 1000 teams earning semi-final places.
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