Sydney 2000. The Olympic debut for women’s water polo. Australia and the United States are level with two minutes on the clock. Nerves are running high. The tension at the Aquatics Centre is palpable. Suddenly, Australia go ahead – a gold medal is in sight. The Americans hit back, with just 13 seconds on the clock. A shoot-out beckons. Until, following an American foul, with barely a second remaining, Australia’s Yvette Higgins whirls a shot past the outstretched arms of the US goalkeeper. Gold!
It was one of the defining moments of the Sydney Olympics. Australia’s water polo team, the Stingers, have never returned to such exhilarating heights. Since winning the inaugural Olympic gold medal in the sport, the Australians have twice won bronze, in 2008 and 2012. But in recent years, they have been a long way from repeating that iconic victory – failing to progress beyond the quarter-finals in the past two Games.
