Australians are known for being tough competitors. But is that the only reason we continually punch above our weight?
Moments like Cathy Freeman winning a gold medal at Sydney 2000 or our consistent domination in the pool remind the world that our nation is not one to be underestimated.
After a strong performance in Tokyo, Australia is currently ranked 11th in the all-time Summer Olympic Games standings despite there being 55 countries with bigger population.
Our nation has won 566 medals and is one of only five countries to have competed in every Olympic Games.
Experts are tipping we could finish as high as fifth in Paris 2024 and third in Brisbane 2032.
So why is Australia so successful in the Olympics?
While funding programs and our summer climate have contributed to our success, our unique attitude to sport has also played a substantial role.
"We have that true grit... it's embedded in our persona," co-director of the Olympic and Paralympic Research Centre Richard Baka told 9news.com.au.
Baka said the Australian public expected success, despite our geographical position.
"I think it's very interesting to see that we have this geographical isolation but with beautiful weather that suits summer sports."
He said Australian women in particular had excelled in the Olympics.
"They've won a lot more medals from fewer events that our men have, which is kind of unique," he said.
Olympic Games history
Australia's first Olympian Edwin Flack competed in the first Games of the modern area in Athens in 1896.
"It's pretty remarkable," Baka said.
"For a country of only 30 million, we can say we've been to every one."
Baka said Flack was studying in England at the time and was fairly well off financially.
He won the 800 metre and 1500 metre sprints, won a bronze medal in doubles tennis and competed in the marathon, according to National Museum Australia.
Australia entered its "golden era" and finished third in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne behind the US and Russia, our highest-ever ranking.
This result and other successful years in the 50s and 60s were largely due to swimming coach Forbes Carlile.
"But then we fell off the pace," Baka said.
"We let things slip a little bit because the other nations' governments were putting money into sport."
Australia had its worst finish at the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976, winning no gold medals and only five medals in total after 146 men and 34 women competed in 115 events.
Baka said Australia was "so embarrassed" by the performance that the government created the Australian Institute of Sport, which put us back on track.
Since then we have developed a range of programs like a European training centre where athletes can go and train in their conditions because we are so far away.
More money was put in for coaching and competition infrastructure.
Prize money was also introduced for athletes if they won a medal.
A gold medal is worth $20,000, silver is $15,000 and bronze is $10,000.
Sydney 2000
The Sydney 2000 Olympics saw Australia make a comeback by finishing fourth in the medal tally.
After those Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Juan Samatanch called it the best games ever.
"The atmosphere was just electric," Baka said.
"The people of the world were just looking forward to seeing Australia... to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House."
He said the stars of that Olympics were Ian Thorpe and Cathy Freeman.
"Ian Thorpe came out later as being gay and Cathy Freeman being Indigenous... it's really cool that that took place and I think it helped our society when you get people that represent different parts of your culture."
The future
Although we've had a lot of success, Baka said athletes did not currently have enough funding to ensure it would continue in the future.
"The government could just give more money but there might be a backlash from Australia saying we need it for housing or need for hospitals," Baka said.
He said there were alternative ways to fundraise like having a national lottery that donates the profit to sport, like Canada and Great Britain have done, which could help.
He also suggested we capitalise on more sponsorship opportunities like setting up an Australia house for friends and family of athletes like other countries do at the Olympics.
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Baka believes if funding for athletes increased before the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Australia could be on track to place in the top three overall at our next home Games.
Baka, as well as other experts, are predicting Australia could finish fifth or sixth at Paris 2024.
"We need to learn to nurture those athletes and get them to a level where they'll perform at their peak and if they medal that's a bonus and if they don't they represented Australia very well."
Baka said increased media coverage was helping athletes, who rely on sponsors for income.
He said the ability to stream multiple events at any time will help to engage a wider audience and boost the country's passion for our Olympians.
