Olympics-Australia hails most successful team, turns eyes to Brisbane 2032

By Nick Mulvenney

PARIS (Reuters) - An emotional Chef de Mission Anna Meares hailed Australia's team at the Paris Olympics on Saturday and hopes their record-breaking performance in the French capital has lit a fire for the home Games in Brisbane in 2032.

Australia's 18 gold medals in Paris is their best tally at any Games and with 16 silvers and 14 bronzes already in the bag, they are only two more podium finishes away from matching the record 50 total medals they won in Athens in 2004.

Meares fought back tears on several occasions during her opening remarks at her final press conference of the Games and had to repeat her concluding comments to her team.

"I said to our teams as they were welcomed into the village, the pages of the chapter that is Paris 2024 were blank. They were there for them to leave their mark," she said.

"From a personal and a performance perspective, those pages are almost complete. The mark that this team will leave on those pages will show that they are the most successful Australian Olympic team. Ever.

"Congratulations. Job well done. Bonne journee. Au revoir. Merci beaucoup."

Australia will host the Olympics for the third time in 2032 and Meares said it was vital that the country invested in sport to ensure a good showing in Los Angeles in 2028 as a springboard for Brisbane.

"We have seen how successful the French team have been on their home soil," she said.

"Their athletes have inspired their nation. Obviously, we have an eye ahead to Brisbane 2032 and our performance in Los Angeles will be key to setting ourselves up for our home Games."

Meares said she thought having experienced what performing at home has meant to the French athletes in Paris would encourage Australian Olympians to want to be around 2032.

"So many athletes have walked into these stadiums and gone, 'oh my goodness, this home crowd is insane', like the volume, the level of noise," she added.

"I think that's given them a real excitement to push through or look forward to Brisbane 2032 ... to walk out and be that hometown athlete ... And I think it's just lit a bit more of a fire in the belly for a few people to try and aspire to get there."

Meares, who said she would be happy to remain as Chef de Mission for another Games if asked, said Paris had put on an inspirational Olympics but that Brisbane should not look to emulate them in style.

"They have showcased their city, their iconic monuments, their people, their culture, sport in general, and good humanity in general as well," she said.

"This was a French Games, a Paris Games, and they did it superbly. We'll do it the Aussie way."

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Christian Radnedge)