Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

competed at the

2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, the ...

in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. Australian athletes have competed in every

Summer Olympic Games The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...

of the modern era. The

Australian Olympic Committee Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

sent a total of 410 athletes to the Games to compete in 23 sports. Australia left London with a total of 35 medals (8 gold, 15 silver, and 12 bronze), the lowest in Summer Olympics since 1992. Ten of these medals were awarded to the athletes in swimming, including the gold from the women's freestyle relay team; six in cycling, five in rowing, and four in sailing. Nine Australian athletes won more than a single Olympic medal in London, while 11 of them managed to claim their Olympic titles for the first time. From the twenty-three sports played by the athletes, fourteen of them contained at least a single Olympic medal. With the absence of baseball and softball at the Olympics, Australia's team-based athletes proved successful in London, as the field hockey teams and the women's basketball team each won bronze medals. For the first time since

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

, Australia did not win an Olympic gold medal in rowing. Among the nation's medalists were sailor Malcolm Page, who successfully defended his Olympic title in the men's 470 class, and hurdler

Sally Pearson Sally Pearson, OAM (née McLellan; born 19 September 1986) is an Australian former athlete. She is the 2011 and 2017 World champion and 2012 Olympic champion in the 100 metres hurdles. She also won a silver medal in the 100 m hurdles at t ...

, who became the first Australian female athlete to win gold in athletics after 12 years. Anna Meares, who won gold and bronze in London, became one of the most successful track cyclists in history, with a total of five Olympic medals. Meanwhile,

Leisel Jones Leisel Marie Jones, OAM (born 30 August 1985) is an Australian former competition swimmer and Olympic gold medallist. A participant in the 2000 Summer Olympics – at just 15 years old – and 2004 Summer Olympics, she was part of gold-medal ...

, who competed at her fourth Olympics, emerged as the greatest Australian female swimmer in history, with a total of nine Olympic medals, including one from London.

Medalists

, width="78%" align="left" valign="top" , , width="22%" align="left" valign="top" , , width="22%" align="left" valign="top" , ^* – Indicates the athlete competed in preliminaries but not the final relay.

Delegation

The

selected a team of 410 athletes, 224 men and 186 women, to compete in 23 sports; it was the nation's fifth largest team sent to the Olympics, but the smallest since the

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

in Barcelona. 227 Australian athletes had competed at their first Games, including freestyle swimmer and pre-Olympic favorite

James Magnussen James Magnussen (born 11 April 1991) is a retired Australian swimmer and Olympic medallist. He was the 2011 and 2013 100-metre freestyle world champion, and holds the record for the fifth fastest swim in history in the 100-metre freestyle, wi ...

, and slalom kayaker Jessica Fox. The Australian team featured twelve defending Olympic champions, including swimmer Stephanie Rice, who won a total of three Olympic gold medals, pole vaulter Steve Hooker, who broke an Olympic record in Beijing, and diver

Matthew Mitcham Matthew John Mitcham OAM (born 2 March 1988) is a retired Australian diver and trampolinist. As a diver, he was the 2008 Olympic champion in the 10m platform, and he is the 2nd highest single-dive score in Olympic history (at the time it wa ...

, who won a gold medal for the first time in men's platform. Equestrian eventing rider

Andrew Hoy Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is frequently shortened to "Andy" or "Drew". The word is derived ...

became the first Australian athlete in history to participate in seven Olympic Games. Three athletes made their sixth Olympic appearance: road cyclist

Stuart O'Grady Stuart O'Grady (born 6 August 1973) is a retired Australian professional road bicycle racer, who rode as a professional between 1995 and 2013. A former track cyclist, O'Grady and Graeme Brown won a gold medal in the Men's Madison at the 2004 ...

, and trap shooters Michael Diamond and

Russell Mark Russell Andrew Mark, (born 25 February 1964 in Hoppers Crossing, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian Olympic Champion Shooter. He won the Olympic gold medal in double trap at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He also won an Olympic sil ...

. Beach volleyballer and two-time Olympic medalist

Natalie Cook Natalie Louise Cook (born 19 January 1975) is an Australian professional beach volleyball player and Olympic gold medallist. She became the first Australian woman to compete at five Olympic Games. Early life Cook was born in Townsville, Quee ...

became the first Australian female athlete to compete at five Olympic Games. Dressage rider Mary Hanna, at age 57, was the oldest athlete of the team, while diver Brittany Broben was the youngest at age 16. Former Olympic rowing champion Nick Green served as Australia's

chef de mission In diplomatic usage, head of mission (HOM) or chief of mission (COM) from the French "chef de mission diplomatique" (CMD) is the head of a diplomatic representation, such as an ambassador, high commissioner, nuncio, chargé d'affaires, perman ...

. Basketball player Lauren Jackson, who led her team by winning the silver medal in her three consecutive Olympics, became Australia's first female flag bearer at the opening ceremony since 1992. Australia did not qualify teams in football, women's indoor volleyball, handball and fencing. There was only a single competitor in men's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics, and wrestling. Athletics was the nation's largest team by sport, with a total of 52 competitors. , width=78% align=left valign=top , The following is the list of number of competitors participating in the Games. Note that reserves in fencing, field hockey, football, and handball are not counted as athletes:

Archery

Australia qualified two archers.

Athletics

Australia sent its second largest team from the track and field to the Olympics outside the host nation. A total of 52 track and field athletes were selected to the team, after having achieved the required qualifying standards in their respective events (up to a maximum of three athletes in each event at the "A" standard, and one at the "B" standard). Pole vaulter, defending Olympic champion, and current Olympic record holder Steve Hooker was appointed as the team captain; however, he missed out of the medal standings and lost his Olympic record to France's Renaud Lavillenie, after failing to clear the height in the finals. Australia left London with a total of three track and field medals at the Olympics. Sprint hurdler and pre-Olympic favorite

became the first woman to win the nation's gold medal in the track and field since Cathy Freeman in 2000. Long jumper

Mitchell Watt Mitchell Watt (born 25 March 1988) is an Australian track & field athlete. His main event is the long jump and holds the current Oceania record for the long jump – 8.54m. He was the first ever Australian long jump medalist at a World Champio ...

, competing at his first Olympics, became the fourth man to claim the silver medal in that event.

Jared Tallent Jared Tallent OAM (born 17 October 1984) is an Australian race walker and Olympic gold medallist in the 50 km walk from London in 2012. He is a four-time Olympic medallist, three-time World Championship medallist and holds the current Ol ...

was initially presented with the silver medal for the men's 50 km race walk, matching the silver medal he won four years earlier in Beijing, but he was subsequently awarded the gold medal for the London event after Russia's

Sergey Kirdyapkin Sergey Alexandrovich Kirdyapkin (russian: Серге́й Алекса́ндрович Кирдя́пкин; born 18 June 1980, in Insar, Mordovia) is a Russian race walker. He was stripped of the 2012 Olympic gold medal in the 50K walk, by d ...

was stripped of his first-place finish after being found guilty of doping. Tallent was presented with his gold medal for the London race at a ceremony held in Melbourne on 17 June 2016. ;Men ;Track & road events *Note: Tim Leathart was selected in the team for the men's 4 × 100 metres relay, but did not compete. ;Field events ;Women ;Track & road events ;Field events

Badminton

* Meiliana Jauhari and Greysia Polii initially qualified in the quarterfinal round, but they were disqualified after being found guilty of "not using best efforts" and "conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport" by playing to lose matches in order to manipulate the draw for the knockout stage.

Basketball

Australia qualified a men's and a women's team. * Men's team event – one team of 12 players * Women's team event – one team of 12 players

Men's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ;Quarter-final

Women's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ;Quarter-final ;Semi-final ;Bronze medal

Boxing

Australia qualified boxers for all of the weight categories in the men's event and one in the women's event. ;Men ;Women

Canoeing

Slalom

Australia qualified boats for the following events. Slalom canoeing 2012 Olympics W K1 AUS Jessica Fox

Sprint

Australia qualified boats for the following events. ;Men ;Women Qualification Legend: FA = Qualify to final (medal); FB = Qualify to final B (non-medal)

Cycling

Australia qualified cyclists for the following events

Road

The Australian men's road cycling team consisted of

Cadel Evans Cadel Lee Evans (; born 14 February 1977) is an Australian former professional racing cyclist, who competed professionally in both mountain biking and road bicycle racing. A four-time Olympian, Evans is one of three non-Europeans – along wi ...

, Michael Rogers,

Simon Gerrans Simon Gerrans (born 16 May 1980) is an Australian former professional road bicycle racer, who rode professionally between 2005 and 2018, for the , , , , and squads. Post-retirement he initially worked as an athlete intern at Goldman Sachs in L ...

and

Matthew Goss Matthew Harley Goss (born 5 November 1986) is a former Australian professional road and track racing cyclist, his final professional team before retirement was the UCI Professional Continental team . He first competed in track cycling before ...

while the women's team was

Shara Gillow Shara Gillow (born 23 December 1987) is an Australian former professional cyclist, who competed professionally between 2011 and 2020, for the , , and teams. She was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics, where she fini ...

Chloe Hosking Chloe Hosking (born 1 October 1990) is an Australian professional racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam . Hosking has represented Australia at junior and then senior levels since 2007. Following success in a number of in ...

and

Amanda Spratt Amanda Spratt (born 17 September 1987) is an Australian road cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam . Spratt was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2012, 2016 and 2020 she won the Au ...

. ;Men ;Women

Track

;Sprint ;Team sprint ;Pursuit *Note:

Alex Edmondson Alexander Edmondson (born 22 December 1993) is an Australian road and track cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam . Edmondson was a member of the Australian Olympic Track Cycling team at the 2012 London Olympics, alongside his sister, A ...

was named on the men's team pursuit squad but did not compete. ;Keirin ;Omnium

Mountain biking

BMX

Diving

;Men ;Women

Equestrian

Australia qualified a team for the

show jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrianism, equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, Show hunter, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including th ...

event based on their performance at the

2010 World Equestrian Games The 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games (officially the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games) were held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. from September 25 to October 10, 2010. This was the sixth edition of the FEI World Eques ...

. Australia also qualified a team in dressage and eventing.

Dressage

Eventing

Andrew Hoy Rutherglen cross country London 2012

Show jumping

Field hockey

Australia qualified a men's and a women's team. Each team had 16 athletes with two reserves.

Men's tournament

;Roster ;Group play Australia was in Pool A of the men's tournament. ;Semi-final ;Bronze medal

Women's tournament

;Roster ;Group play Australia was in Pool B of the women's competition. ;5th/6th place

Gymnastics

Artistic

Australia qualified a women's team and an individual man. ;Men ;Women ;Team ;Individual finals

Rhythmic

Australia qualified one woman.

Trampoline

Australia qualified one male athlete.

Judo

Australia qualified six judokas, five men and one woman. ;Men ;Women

Modern pentathlon

Based on their results at the 2011 Asian/Oceania Championships Edward Fernon and

Chloe Esposito Chloe Esposito (born 19 September 1991) is an Australian shooter and modern pentathlon competitor. She competed at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in the 10 m air pistol. She represented Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London ...

have qualified for modern pentathlon events in London.

Rowing

Australia qualified 13 boats and 46 athletes. ;Men ;Women Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage

Sailing

Australia qualified 1 boat for each of the following events ;Men ;Women ;Fleet racing ;Match racing M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race

Shooting

Australia qualified the following shooters. ;Men ;Women

Swimming

Australia entered swimmers in most events, after having achieved the qualifying standards (up to a maximum of two swimmers in each event at the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), and one at the Olympic Selection Time (OST)). 47 swimmers were selected to the team after the 2012 Australian Swimming Championships, held in Adelaide from 15 to 22 March 2012. The Australian swimmers included the pre-Olympic favorite

, competing in four of his individual and relay events, defending champion Stephanie Rice in the individual medley events, and breaststroker and former world-record holder

, who was at her fourth Olympics. Australia left London with 10 swimming medals, one gold, six silver, and three bronze. The only gold medal was awarded to the women's 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay team. Swimmer Alicia Coutts became the nation's only female athlete to win five Olympic medals, including two from her individual events. Backstroker

Emily Seebohm Emily Jane Seebohm, OAM (born 5 June 1992) is an Australian swimmer and television personality. She has appeared at four Olympic Games between 2008 and 2021; and won three Olympic gold medals, five world championship gold medals and seven Comm ...

, on the other hand, broke a new Olympic record during the heats in the women's 100 m backstroke event, but managed to settle for silver in the finals. Jones and Rice qualified successfully for the final rounds of their respective individual events, but missed out of the medal standings. Magnussen, however, made a disappointing finish in all of his events, after winning only the silver medal in men's 100 m freestyle, behind U.S. swimmer Nathan Adrian, and the bronze in the men's 4 × 100 metres medley relay event. ;Men ;Women

Synchronised swimming

Australia qualified a duet and a team, for a total of nine athletes.

Table tennis

Australia qualified four athletes for the singles competitions, and one team of three in both team competitions. ;Men ;Women

Taekwondo

Australia qualified two athletes.

Tennis

;Men ;Women ;Mixed

Triathlon

Australia qualified six athletes.

Volleyball

Beach

Australia qualified two women teams, one via the Olympic ranking and other after winning the AVC Continental Beach Volleyball Cup.

Indoor

Men's tournament

Australian men's team qualified after finishing 2nd FIVB in the men's Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo. ;Roster ;Group play

Water polo

Australia qualified a men's and a women's team. Each team was made up of 13 athletes.

Men's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ;Quarter-final ;Fifth-sixth place game ;Seventh-eight place game

Women's tournament

;Roster ;Group play ;Quarter-final ;Semi-final ;Bronze medal

Weightlifting

Australia won 2 quotas in weightlifting.

Wrestling

Australia qualified one quota place. ;Men's freestyle

Media coverage

Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...

and

Foxtel Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was establi ...

won the television rights. Nine Network showed more than 300 hours of coverage over the 16 days. There was live coverage generally from 18:30 to 09:00 (Australian Eastern Standard Time) and a highlights package from 09:00 to 11:00 and 16:00 to 18:00 (AEST). Foxtel had eight dedicated channels and showed 1,100 hours of live events, with a total coverage of 3,200 hours.

Macquarie Radio Network Nine Radio (formerly Macquarie Media Limited) is an Australian media company, owned by parent company Nine Entertainment Co. and headquartered in North Sydney, New South Wales, the company operates radio stations nationally in the capital cit ...

and

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

are the radio rights holders.

References

External links

Australian Olympic Committee London 2012 website

London 2012 Olympics official website
* {{Nations at the 2012 Summer Olympics Nations at the 2012 Summer Olympics

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

Olympics The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...