The Australian Stingers have endured a painful Olympic experience, losing 11-9 to Spain in the women’s water polo final after a frustrating 24-year wait for the biggest title in the sport.
The team of historic coach Bec Rippon, who were unbeaten throughout the tournament, finally drew a match against a fantastic Spanish team inspired by four-goal scorer Bea Ortiz and hat-trickster Maica Garcia Godoy in a sizzling La Defense Arena on Saturday.
Even five goals from their own brilliant top scorer Alice Williams were not enough for the Stingers, who were trying to emulate the famous Sydney 2000 crop that won the inaugural women’s tournament at home.
Since then they have suffered so many close defeats at world tournaments and now they had to settle for silver after being soundly trounced by the Spanish, who were able to improve on their second place at the Tokyo Games.
“I’m so proud of this team, but it’s been tough,” admitted Rippon, who was part of the 2008 bronze medal-winning team in Beijing and is now the first female coach of a women’s team to win an Olympic medal.
‘We had a lot of chances to score, but we didn’t finish well and didn’t take our chances.
‘Their keeper (Martina Terre) played a great game, but we were probably a bit too predictable in where we were going to shoot and didn’t finish the ball as well as we wanted to.’
Williams eventually became the tournament’s top scorer with 21 goals, while the excellent Gabriella Palm had another important game.
Their tournament began under a cloud due to a Covid-19 outbreak, but the Stingers fought back and remained undefeated before taking silver (pictured) against Spain
The Stingers’ Bronte Halligan is pictured defending during the two-goal loss to the Spanish. She later described winning silver as pure joy
“They’re both fantastic players and they’ve really made a great step forward. I’m proud of them,” Rippon said when asked about the star duo.
But their heroics weren’t enough to outshine Spain, the team in top form at the tournament. After initial disappointment, the Stingers players were overjoyed to secure silver medals at a tournament that began while the team was hit by a COVID-19 outbreak.
“We weren’t stressed about it,” explained long-serving skipper Zoe Arancini. “It was just another bump in the journey and we just had to get on with it. It’s Aussie Stinger style – take it as it comes and go for it.
‘Disappointed not to get gold but delighted to get silver. I couldn’t be more proud of this team. They truly embodied the Australian spirit of fighting to the end.’
Williams had put Australia ahead with a penalty within two minutes to calm things down, but it didn’t work.
They were never to lead again, and even when a Sienna Hearn goal early in the final quarter brought them back to just one behind, the magnificent Ortiz and Garcia Godoy re-established full control. A fifth goal for Williams and another from Hearn were too little, far too late.
The Stingers were excited about their conclusion to the Games and promised that the team will continue to achieve great results
Afterwards there were a few tears of disappointment, but the emotions were mainly pride and joy.
Bronte Halligan, who was photographed as a little girl outside the Olympics opening ceremony, smiled: ‘I woke up this morning and thought to myself, ‘play for little Bronte’, do it for that little four-year-old girl who has fallen in love with the Olympics.
“And I really had a great time – and I can only describe it as joy.”
Keesja Gofers, the oldest member of the team at 34, could not hold back her tears when she saw her daughter in the audience.
“You know, this team can do so much more,” she promised.
“It’s exciting, Australia. Get behind us and watch this space because the future is going to be exciting.”