Australian swimmer Brendon Smith bags first Tokyo Olympics medal and places third

Australian swimmers bag our first Tokyo Olympics medals with a silver in the 400m freestyle and bronze in 400m medley

  • Australian swimmer Brendon Smith finished third in 400m Individual Medley
  • Smith followed behind American swimmers Jay Litherland and Chase Kalisz
  • The ecstatic 21-year-old said he could not believe the final result following race
  • Jack McLoughlin won silver after finishing second in the 400m freestyle event 

Swimmers Brendon Smith and Jack McLoughlin have scored the first medals for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics.

Smith earned bronze after placing third behind American swimmers Jay Litherland and Chase Kalisz in the 400m Individual Medley.

McLoughlin scored silver after coming second behind Tunisia swimmer Ahmed Hafnaoui in the 400m freestyle.  

An ecstatic Smith said he could not believe the final result and how far he had come from his humble roots in Melbourne.

I can’t believe it,’ he told reporters. ‘Twelve months ago when the Games were cancelled or postponed, I thought give me another opportunity, another year to better my preparation from last time.’

Swimmers Brendon Smith (pictured) and Jack McLoughlin have scored the first medals for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics 

Smith earned bronze after placing third behind American swimmers Jay Litherland and Chase Kalisz in the 400m Individual Medley

Smith earned bronze after placing third behind American swimmers Jay Litherland and Chase Kalisz in the 400m Individual Medley

‘So, you know, to improve that much and to be able to get on the podium is incredible.’

The swimmer remained thanked his mother, father and two sisters for supporting him along the way. 

‘Thank you so much for supporting me,’ he said, ‘I can’t believe it.’ 

McLoughlin followed suit to thank his family saying they were the ‘whole world to me.’ 

‘Everyone says swimming is an individual sport but it is not,’ he said. ‘I like to think of it as I’m the F1 car and I pilot it and they are my pit crew. They are doing everything to help me out.’ 

‘It just means the absolute world to me to have them by my side. My parents my family, my beautiful girlfriend and all her family. 

‘There are so many people there. It is not just one person here, it is the whole place. They mean the world. I say a huge thank you to everyone who got me here.’ 

More to come 

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