Victoria will welcome home its Olympians and Paralympians this Saturday, fittingly at Olympic Park.
Recognition for the 122 Victorian Institute of Sport athletes who competed in Paris across both Games will mark the conclusion of one four-year cycle and the beginning of another, with Los Angeles in 2028 already on the minds of many.
Some, such as teenage Olympians Brock Batty and Keefer Wilson or 20-year-old runner Claudia Hollingsworth, are eyeing Brisbane in 2032.
But Paris won’t be forgotten quickly.
The city itself was podium worthy, with its Gallic charms at times seemingly in competition for attention with some of the incredible action.
Olympic beach volleyball, contested before the Eiffel Tower, may never know such a picturesque juxtaposition again.
In all, the VIS cohort returned with 28 medals; six gold, four silver and 18 bronze.
The golden performances emerged from two sports: cycling and table tennis. Grace Brown on the road and Kelland O’Brien on the track won Olympic cycling gold and Emily Petricola won Para-cycling gold and along the way claimed a world record in the Individual Pursuit.
And yet Qian Yang may have reason to be regarded as the standout VIS athlete in Paris. The four-time Paralympian won table tennis gold in the WS10 singles and the doubles, with partner Lina Lei.
VIS athletes also won medals in athletics, basketball, boxing, shooting, rowing, swimming and wheelchair rugby. Yang and Lei, Olympic race walker Jemima Montag and Para-cyclist Alistair Donohoe all won two medals.
As ever, the Games were both a start and end. 54 VIS athletes made their Olympic or Paralympic debuts, which suggests that there is much to work with and look forward to as LA approaches.
Dayna Crees, who surprised with Paralympic bronze in the F34 javelin and Reece Langdon, performing a tactical run to claim bronze in the 1500m T38, were among the debutants.
For others, Paris was a final word. Opals captain Tess Madgen, who led the team to a bronze medal, announced her retirement. As did Brown after winning the women’s Olympic road race.
The youngest VIS athlete in Paris was 17-year-old skater Wilson, who made the park final and will see his favoured ramp discipline included on the skate program in LA. The oldest was Dianne Barnes, the colourful 66-year-old Para-equestrian from the Mornington Peninsula.
Come Saturday, Paris will be a wonderful memory. By Monday, the VIS will be humming again with the ambition, drive and effort required for a long march to LA.
If you're unable to welcome home our athletes on Saturday, or even if you are, join us for an opportunity to meet Australia's Olympic and Paralympic heroes at the free VIS Open Day. Try your hand at a new sport and you might just end up in Brisbane in 2032.
Learn more and book free tickets.
