- Shayna Jack took gold in the 4×100 meter relay
- She was given a doping ban at the last Olympics
- Jack has since cleared her name of misconduct
Three years ago, Shayna Jack was walking around a zoo full of jealousy.
The Australian 4x100m freestyle relay team competed at the Tokyo Olympics.
But Jack’s two-year ban for doping had just ended, meaning she now had no chance of swimming at the Tokyo Olympics.
The Australian team of Emma McKeon, sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell and Meg Harris won gold in Tokyo in a world record time.
“I was at Australia Zoo,” Jack said after being part of the Australian 4x100m freestyle relay team that won gold at the Paris Olympics on Saturday night.
‘I’m a real animal lover, as is my partner, and I’ve been to Australia Zoo.
‘I still wanted to watch… and cheer them on. I love those girls.
‘They were happy, but also jealous that I couldn’t be there.
Shayne Jack won Olympic gold as part of the 4x100m freestyle team
Jack tested positive for banned substances in 2019, but has since cleared her name
I sent them all a message.
‘It was one of those moments that gave me the strength to come back.
“That was actually the reason I came back and wanted to be part of this team.”
Jack, who has always maintained that she is innocent of doping, now wants to recover from her relay highlight in Paris and concentrate on her individual swimming performances, the 50 metres and 100 metres freestyle.
“I want to accomplish so much this week,” she said.
‘I’m going to use that time at the end of the week to think, but for now I’m mainly going to get back in the pool, prepare and look ahead to see what else I can do.
‘Making the Olympic team was my first step and that was one of the most exciting moments. I didn’t know where it would take me.
“This is definitely a good start.”