SEN Superstar, Gerard Whateley, joined Scott Cummings and Tim Gossage to update us with the latest from the Paris Games where he has his boots on the ground.
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SEN WA Breakfast
Gerard Whateley - Paris Games Update (29/07/2024)
[Music] Scotty and Gus on this Monday morning, you know, we're just gonna just put the footy to a side. There's been plenty going on, and one man who's always across the footy though, normally is Jared Whiteley, but now... There's something else going on. Yeah, apparently. He's under the Eiffel Tower, eating croissants as we speak. [Laughs] If he'll appear he's online. They were smoked in his life, but apparently he's got three on the go at the moment, which is all they do over there. Jared Whiteley's over there in Pallee for the Games for SCN Network. Jared, fantastic stuff and a great day for Australia. Gus, Scotty, just before we deal with Australia, can I feel like I might be in the right hands here? I had a question nagging at me. How many chocolate croissants is okay per day? No, no, no. That probably is the difference between you and I like that. Any more than 12 and you're an absolute glutton. [Laughs] Now, for Australia, I can't ever remember a game starting quite like this. So, the two iconic Olympians of the era have already won their gold medals in their signature events. Ariane Titmus, night one, 400 meters freestyle, and in the canoes later in the most excruciatingly tense circumstances, Jess Fox does it today. So, four gold medals already. And it's not to take anything away from Grace Brown or the four by 100 meter relay team who have had sustained excellence now across four games. But these were the two who were sort of sent forth as the faces of the team. And Jess so much so that she was the voice. She's the image at the front of the Channel 9 opener. So she defines these Olympics in Paris and she wins the event that has always alluded to her. And I could remember the tension from Tokyo and it's a special kind of tension that I'm not sure gets replicated in any other sport. But it had the additional element of she blew the run in the semi-final. Just for a moment you're actually wondering whether she was going to be in the 12. She goes through eighth, she lays down one heck of a run and I feel like 96.08 becomes an instant part of our sport in our Olympic folklore. And then has to wait through seven boats who all lead her at the first time marker. And so we're left in exactly the same manner as she is. She's seeing there for the world to watch in the provisional gold medal seat wondering if she'll get knocked off. And all of us are watching the clock trying not to wish ill on the competitors because they all have stories but wishing just gentle ill will. But defending gold medalist is the last to go. So the best credential to beat her. And I think the quality of what Jess did was borne out by the era that was made at gate 19 and 20 by the defending champion. It cost her run, she misses the medals with a 50 second penalty. And at that moment you realize that Jess has won the gold and it was really emotional for everybody. And that family shares so much with us. So Jess does everything. Her dad, Richard's on the commentary and her mum's the coach. So we not only live vicariously through them but all those emotions just are so writ large during it. Joey Waidley in Paris with our games update. Ariane Titmus wins again the 400 freestyle, one of our gold medals so far as mentioned. I saw something pop up on socials, people asking the question, is it too soon to say she's the best Tasmanian sporting expert, export? Or does Ricky Ponting still hold the mantle thoughts? Now I love that question. That's probably for them to answer rather than us to impose from the mainland. The simple quality of what she just did is best borne out by the historic fact she's the first female Australian swimmer to defend the gold medal since Dawn Fraser. Okay, so that tells you in one simple line how rare and precious that is. And now she's got the opportunity to do more. So I was at the pool tonight and the last race was the semi-final. There's not a breath between Ariane and Molyo Callahan in the 200m freestyle. So that is an epic race tomorrow night. World record is in play. If Titmus does that then what does that do to further her legacy? Her legend's already there but her legacy would grow. So yeah, a question for the end of the swimming programme but an excellent provisional question just to salute what she's been able to do across these two games. Alrighty, and cast her eye over to the football and the Matilda's. Now again, so we were 5-2 down to Zambia. I repeat, 5-2 down to Zambia. I don't know how good Zambia are in the women's world game but we got up 6-5. That is some ticker stuff by the Australians because lose that and they were done. Yes, and that would have been a disaster, wouldn't it? Because the Matilda's own such a place in the national affection and on the landscape that you can't fail like that when you're that team. And so that is properly being walked to the brink and having a good long look over the edge. We're in the stands at the swimming following those scores and I must say the Australian stronghold had basically given up at 5-2. There was a lot of mashing of teeth. So what does it do? And these questions are only ever answered in hindsight. Is that the liberating win? Is that the moment that gets the momentum to go on some sort of memorable run? Or is that a reflection that they aren't playing very well? So both of those thoughts are in play right now. They shouldn't have been, regardless of what you think of the scouting report of Zambia. I don't think they should have been 5-2 down and I think that's a pretty obvious thing to say. But they pull it out of the fire and you just never know where momentum comes from in sport. So we're all done to them because if we were sitting here right now and they were out of the Olympic tournament, they would come with some pretty harsh judgement to be frank. A lot of people saying Zambia are the hawthorn of the Olympic football movement. So just keep it in perspective. We're going to let you get to bed, mate. But what's on tomorrow for you and tonight for us? Yeah, so the whole day tomorrow we'll build to that 200m final, Ariana and Molly. And they are their stablemates. I don't think they're friends. It will test the allegiances as to who you're cheering for. They'll go 1-2 on everything that we know and we've seen. Which way does that go? And then I want to get to the fencing tomorrow because it's in one of the great auditoriums of Harris. They're using their backdrop spectacularly. The hottest ticket in towns is the beach volleyball. It's sit there today in the beaming sunshine with the Eiffel Tower looming up over the temporary stadium. It's just to recognise the sheer genius of what they did in building that. Very much so. Looking forward to it. You talk about Titmus and the Callahan in the Women's 200 freestyle. Not being stablemates, not being friends. Similar to Jared and Robbo when they do that show. Oh gosh. Stablemates. But not friends. Oh well. And just in quick summary we... I don't know who I'd be barreking for if there was a race there. You and me on you. The men's and the women's are both in hockey of course. We're looking forward to that one. We've got our basketballers. Our Aussie girls are in action. So there's plenty to see and do. Jared, just in simple terms for those listening. Is it up and about? Is it massive over there? Has Paris really come to life? It has. It has. Saturday was a bit sleepy because it was just so damn wet. And got into the heart of town. There just weren't many people around. But today once the sun came out is going down to the Eiffel Tower heading out to Roland Garros over to that. There's a really central stadium where the swimming is. Yeah. There were people everywhere. Huge stronghold of locals and international visitors everywhere you looked. Just the true beauty of the Olympic Games is... It hasn't been there probably for the past couple. It felt out in force and a great reminder of just how unifying the Olympics are. That was today. And we just might get a special mention to Chloe Covelle, who's fallen short, becoming the youngest Australian to medal. She missed out in the gravity-defying street skateboarding final. Let's right up your alley, Jared. I watched that whilst waiting for the Jess Fox final to start. Mesmerising and utterly perplexing. Jared is very... If you wrote her artist in sport, then Jared Whiteley would tell you. That's just inspired me to actually watch the Olympic Games. Exactly right. We're starting to get our teeth into it, and we certainly will be. And we'll have all of it tomorrow morning. Jared, appreciate your time. Thanks for joining us. It's terrific, Gladys. Have a great day. Best in the business. Twelve, Jared. Best in the business. Jared Whiteley over there in... Twelve. Twelve of me. Twelve of me. Winning Rome. Winning Rome. Well, they're not in Rome. Well, we should be still winning France. They were the French too. All righty, let's drop it for Johnson. Fifteen darts. Jared Whiteley joining us as we continue to look at the Games in Paris. Scott Ingles.