Logan’s Ash Moloney became the first Aussie to win an Olympic decathlon medal, claiming bronze on Thursday night in his debut games.
The tiniest of margins separated him from fourth place at the end of 10 track and field events over two days in stifling Tokyo humidity.
Mum Alyson Moloney watched from their family home in Heritage Park.
“I’m just so relieved for him,” she said. “To see all the years of hard work pay off, yeah, I’m just over the moon for him.”
Mr Moloney was neck and neck with the USA’s Garrett Scantling heading into the final event on Thursday night – the 1,500m run.
He only had to keep within 9 seconds of the American’s time to win third place.
What followed was a moment no one will forget anytime soon. His fellow Aussie and training partner from back home, Cedric Dubler, sacrificed part of his race to act as a pacer.
Mr Dubler was right in his ear from the third lap, giving him the fire and pep he needed to charge home in the last 100m.
“I was trying to listen to the commentary, trying to see where he was, and I was bashing the bed and yelling out for him to go,” Mrs Moloney said.
Mr Moloney collapsed in exhaustion after the finish line, met moments later by his countryman who came bounding in to celebrate.
But then came the excruciating wait while the tallies were finalised.
“When they were crossing the line, it took forever to get the results and I was just thinking ‘come on, come on’ because I knew how close it was going to be,” Mrs Moloney said.
A 38-point margin separated them in the end, which is nothing in decathlon – that could be half a second in a race or mere meters in a javelin throw.
For coach Eric Brown, it was the first time one of his athletes has medalled at the Olympics.
He was ecstatic to see Mr Moloney deliver on the potential they all know he has.
“I can’t think of any other 21-year-old who has won an Olympic medal in decathlon because they are such a mature event, and most people don’t mature until their mid- to-late 20s,” he said.
Mr Brown said the achievement will help bring publicity to the sport, which will help pick it up out of the doldrums of Australian Athletics.
“It’ll inspire hundreds and thousands of kids around Australia,” he said.
“A lot of people think that multi-eventers do decathlons or heptathlons because they’re not very good at other events, but I can tell you now that Ash Moloney could make the Olympics in about five or 6 individual events.”
Australia can expect to see more exciting times in the future from Mr Moloney, who at 21 years old, could still have several Olympic Games in him.
“He has bucketloads of improvement left in him, and if he stays uninjured he will only get better,” said Mr Brown.
Mr Moloney will take a short break upon returning from Tokyo. His attention then turns to the Commonwealth Games and World Championships next year.
