There were warning signs when much of the Matildas' luggage was left in Spain before their Olympic kick-off in France.
The flame hadn't yet been lit, but the alarms were ringing in Marseille after a 3-0 loss to Germany set the tone for an underwhelming group stage exit for the Paris medal hopefuls.
Coach Tony Gustavsson promptly left his post and Football Australia boss James Johnson arrived home to questions of pampering, FA's relationship with superstar injured captain Sam Kerr and whether Gustavsson had lost the dressing room.
But, even during Australia's most golden Games, they were not alone in their struggles.
Back in Paris, Australia's men's rugby sevens team saw their first Olympic medal slip away with an after-the-siren try to South Africa in the bronze medal game.
Tim Walsh's women then nosedived in shock losses to Canada and the USA - after breathtaking round-robin form - to also finish fourth and miss the podium for a second-straight Games.
It set the tone for more team misery, Australia's hockey teams stopped in the quarter-finals after contrasting campaigns.
The men were among the top gold hopes but never found first gear, eventually turned over 2-0 by the Netherlands in what's likely to trigger a roster overhaul of the experienced side.
The arrest and detainment of Tom Craig, ironically one of the better performers in Paris, for attempting to buy cocaine on a night out shortly after their loss only created more headaches for the organisation.
The Hockeyroos were not as fancied but quickly raised hopes, impressive and unbeaten until eventual silver medallists China rocked them in a 3-2 quarter-final loss remembered for several disputable calls that prompted a "please explain" from Hockey Australia to the sport's governing body.
It was their sixth finish outside the top four since winning a third gold in four Games 24 years ago, made worse by the fact China had old Hockeyroos heads Alyson Annan and Ric Charlesworth in their dugout.
The Opals started poorly and finished well to be assured of at least fourth, while the Boomers started well but finished poorly.
Coach Brian Goorjian launched into a defence of his highly-criticised selections and rotations after announcing his departure as coach.
Rowing Australia have launched a review after their lowest medal yield in 36 years, leaving Paris with just one bronze after winning two gold and two bronze in Tokyo.
Breaking's Olympic debut will be remembered for Rachael Gunn, aka Raygun, who brought a water pistol to a bazooka fight.
Fourth in Tokyo, Peter Bol fired even fewer shots in an underwhelming 800m campaign, run out in the repechage round alongside national record holder Joseph Deng.
An off-pace Rohan Browning fared no better, eliminated in the 100m heats after clocking a time .23 seconds slower than the 10.01 that sent tongues wagging in Tokyo.
Logan Martin got the wobbles in his BMX freestyle title defence while Chloe Covell could not take a trick, nor land one, in the street skateboarding final.
A stumble was the last thing Australia's triathlon mixed relay team needed as they lagged in 12th.
And swimmer Sam Short was a golden shot in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle but only made the final in the first of those, finishing fourth in one of the Dolphins' rare mis-steps.
