Australia’s Nina Kennedy sprang from the pole vault mats, punching the air thrice in triumph. She then dashed towards the Olympic spectators, taking three more jubilant swings into the air.
Aussies in the stands flew the flag, shook green-and-gold banners and held up yellow inflatable kangaroos.
Kennedy didn’t know at that stage she would deliver Australia an 18th gold medal at the Paris Games — a national record for the Olympics. That was just the celebration for clearing the height to take the lead.
Kennedy clinched the victory a bit later Wednesday when Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Katie Moon failed to clear 4.95 meters after a three-hour final.
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Then the emotions took over. Kennedy raced back to her supporters in the crowd and the tears flowed as she hugged friends, family and discus throw bronze medalist Matthew Denny, who just happened to be walking back after his final to join the group.
Then Kennedy sprang back across the track, hopping with delight. Well, delivering Australia’s fourth gold medal on Day 12 helped surpass the country’s previous record total of 17 golds for a Summer Games — set at the 2004 Athens Olympics and in Tokyo three years ago. The Australians moved from 14 to 18 gold medals in about six hours, while most of the country Down Under was sleeping.
“I didn’t know that, that is just insane,” Kennedy said after being told of the record haul. “I can’t wait to go home and watch a replay of the whole Olympics.”
Australia ranked third in the gold-medal standings behind the United States and China with four days of the Paris Games remaining. Australia had 18 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze for a total of 41 medals, still well short of the record 58 it won at home at the 2000 Sydney Games.