Curtains Close on Historic Games

The curtain has closed on an incredible Olympics in Paris where for the first time three Australian teams competed at the Games.

The Gangurrus made history as the first Australian team to compete in the 3x3 competition and fell oh-so-short of a finals spot and chance to contest the medal games. The team was hit hard at the business end of the tournament when Lauren Mansfield was sidelined with injury meaning the Gangurrus had to play with just three players and no rotation.

Mansfield, Ally Wilson, Marena Whittle and Anneli Maley all blazed a trail for the newest format of the game and the many players who will follow in their footsteps.

After advancing from the group stage in Lille, it was a devastating end for the Boomers whose campaign came to an end against Serbia in overtime in a Quarter-Final epic.

Captain Patty Mills and Joe Ingles joined elite company in Boomers legend Andrew Gaze by making their fifth Olympic Games appearance. For debutants Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Jack McVeigh and Will Magnay it was a childhood dream realised.

The Opals returned to the Olympic podium for the first time in 12 years by defeating Belgium in a thriller to win a bronze medal.

It was a remarkable turnaround for the team which lost its opening pool game to Nigeria and turned its fortunes around.

Lauren Jackson claimed a remarkable fifth medal in her fifth Games while Jade Melbourne, Isobel Borlase, Sami Whitcomb, Kristy Wallace and Amy Atwell all return home with a medal on Olympic debut.

 The Gangurrus and the Wombats (wheelchair) will have a chance to compete in the Commonwealth Games in 2026, with the 3x3 sport being the only basketball event to be played.