Skip to main content

The personal cost of Olympic glory: Kookaburras captains are overcome with emotion speaking about missing their loved ones in Australia - as they prepare for a two-week quarantine stint after silver medal finish

Kookaburras co-captains Aran Zalewski and Eddie Ockenden felt emotional and can't wait to see their families after losing their gold-medal match in Tokyo.

Kookaburras star Aran Zalewski admits he missed the support of friends and family at the Tokyo Olympics, where fellow co-captain Eddie Ockenden also cut a drained figure after collecting a silver medal.

Australia lost their gold-medal match to fellow men's hockey heavyweights Belgium in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday night, going down 3-2 in a penalty shootout after being locked at 1-1 in regular time.

Kookaburras star Aran Zalewski admits he missed the support of friends and family at the Tokyo Olympics, where fellow co-captain Eddie Ockenden also cut a drained figure after collecting a silver medal

Kookaburras star Aran Zalewski admits he missed the support of friends and family at the Tokyo Olympics, where fellow co-captain Eddie Ockenden also cut a drained figure after collecting a silver medal

The squad have been away from home since mid-July, while they face a fortnight in hotel quarantine before seeing loved ones again.

'Of course, I'm struggling, I'm pretty fatigued as well,' Zalewski said, describing his 'raw emotion'.

'I'm just - not sad - but it was a real shame we didn't have any fans, friends and family here.

'I know they offer so much support for us players and keep us really grounded at tournaments like this, when we're away from home for so long.

'I know they'll be super proud of us.'

Andrew Ogilvie of Australia breaks away from the defence during the gold medal final match between Australia and Belgium

Andrew Ogilvie of Australia breaks away from the defence during the gold medal final match between Australia and Belgium

Ockenden was overcome with emotion when asked about wife Louise and their sons.

'I miss them a lot,' the veteran told the Seven Network at the end of his fourth Olympics.

'I know that they support me.

'I have been focusing so much on here.

'I've got a family that loves me at home, which I'm looking forward to getting back to.'

Ending a gold-medal match with one-on-ones, especially after a five-year wait since Australia's quarter-final loss at Rio 2016, has reignited debate about whether the sport should find a better way to separate sides.

Zalewski and Ockenden both indicated their preference would be to return to extra time, which was in use when the Kookaburras won gold at Athens 2004.

acob Whetton and Blake Govers of Australia look dejected after the gold medal final match

acob Whetton and Blake Govers of Australia look dejected after the gold medal final match

'If you let it go to a shootout it can be a bit of a coin toss sometimes,' Australia keeper Andrew Charter said, having been the difference in a quarter-final shootout.

Charter added he and teammates would support Jake Whetton.

Whetton twice missed Australia's final shot of the Olympics, with officials allowing him a retake after a video review found Belgium keeper Vincent Vanasch illegally erred.

'He won't be alone tonight,' Charter said.

'All of us have something that we could have done a little bit better ... we all feel the pain together.'

The women's hockey bronze-medal and gold-medal matches are on Friday, but the Hockeyroos won't take part in either after their shock quarter-final loss to India.

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o