The games start strong for Australia!

Michellie Jones of Australia waves to the crowd in Sydney. Image Source: AOC, Jamie Squire.

In the very first event of Day 2, Aussie hero Michellie Yvonne Jones became the first athlete representing the Commonwealth of Australia to nab an Olympic medal in triathlon, when she yanked the silver in the women’s event. This was also the first time the sport was held at an Olympic level. To make things even sweeter, it was Australia’s first medal of the Sydney Games.

Australia chucked a silver and bronze into the haul at the Sydney Velodrome, the bicycle legend Shane Kelly took out bronze in the men’s 1km time trial, and Michelle Ferris slipped in the silver in the women’s 500m time trial. It was Michelle’s second Olympic medal after her silver win in Atlanta 1996.

Australia took down the United States’ monopoly in the men’s 4x100m freestyle by claiming gold. “We will smash them like guitars” the Yanks said before being smashed like guitars. Until this day in 2000, the previous seven gold medals in this competition were held by the Americans. On top of the win, Australia set two world records during it; Michael Klim finished his dip in just 48.18 seconds while the team smashed the overall record with 3:13.67. Since that day in 2000, Australia has won two bronzes in the event, in Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016.

Instagram, Gregg Porteous @skipper_aust: “What a night ! 20 years ago I was lucky to be on pool deck to photograph night 1 of the swimming at the Sydney 2000 olympics . 17 year old @ian.thorpe wins the 400 freestyle in a new world record, then the Mens 4×100 @michaelklim1 , @ashcallus , @fydes02 and @ian.thorpe break the WR by 2 secs and smash the Americans like guitars! The noise from the capacity crowd was incredible .#sydney2000 #bestgamesever”

Ian Thorpe won two gold medals on the first night in the Sydney Aquatic Centre. Thorpedo was part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team and also claimed the men’s 400m freestyle just in the hour earlier. Needless to say both gold medals carried world record smashes too.

Australia won five medals on the first day after the cauldron managed to stay lit, we walked out with two gold, two silver and a bronze. This to present day is still the best opening-day medal haul in the Australia’s Olympic legacy.