The Australian women’s water polo team has won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, marking Australia’s fourth Olympic medal in the sport and their first since 2012. Bronte Halligan, Sierra Hearn, and Tilly Kearns, all products of the Freshwater-based Breakers, contributed heavily to the green and gold’s impressive Olympic campaign.
The team fell to Spain 11-9 in a tightly contested final that saw the Stingers try their mightiest to repeat Australia’s gold medal performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where water polo first debuted as an Olympic sport.
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Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers talents shine on olympic stage
Australia’s journey to the final was marked by standout performances from both veterans and a new generation of players.
Dual Olympian Bronte Halligan, 27, played a pivotal role throughout the tournament, netting ten goals across seven games. Her three-goal performance against Canada was crucial in securing their spot in the knockout rounds.
Halligan’s moment of the tournament came against Greece, as she notched two goals and two assists.
Rising star Sierra Hearn, 22, made a significant impact in the final match against Spain. Despite being underutilised earlier in the tournament, Hearn seized her opportunity, scoring two goals on two attempts in just 15 minutes of playing time.
Another dual Olympian Tilly Kearns, daughter of Wallabies legend Phil Kearns, furthered her family’s sporting legacy with a vital contribution to Australia’s success.
While Kearns only found the back of the net once throughout the tournament, she made her presence felt in other crucial ways. She filled up the statsheet with five steals, three rebounds, and four blocks in seven games, showcasing her all-around game and defensive prowess.
Australia’s journey to the final
The Australian team displayed remarkable consistency throughout the Games, going undefeated in the group stage with a 4-0 record.
Their path to the final included a commanding 9-6 victory over Greece in the quarterfinals and a nail-biting win against the USA in the semi-finals, which ended 14-13 after a dramatic 6-5 shootout.
Despite Australia’s valiant efforts, Spain proved to be the dominant force in the final, securing their first-ever gold medal in women’s water polo after silvers in London 2012 and Tokyo 2020. The Spanish team, playing in their fourth Olympics, maintained a perfect 7-0 record throughout the tournament.
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As Australia celebrates its silver medal, the performance of young talents like Andrews and the experience of players like Palm bode well for the future of Australian women’s water polo on the international stage.
With a silver medal in hand and a promising roster of both rising stars and seasoned veterans, the green and gold is poised to build on this success as they look towards the future.
Published 11-August-2024
