Gliders Finish with Silver
After a 14 point loss to Germany, the Australian Gliders finish up with an Olympic Silver medal around their necks.
After the 58-44 result, the Gliders slight lack of accuracy throughout the match kept them from winning the gold that they have been ever so craving to taste at a Paralympic level.
Although Australia had more shots and turnovers than Garmany, their low shooting percentage and 1/12 on free-throws allowed the opposition to build pressure and stretch the lead.
Australian captain Bridie Kean was quick to pay tribute to the victorious German team.
“We have had the opportunity to play Germany a fair bit in our preparation so our game plan was to have strong defensive pressure and take it from there. It started off really good for us, unfortunately they just got a couple more runs than us and that’s the way it goes sometimes. They played a great game,” Kean said.
“We stuck together 12 deep from the second the buzzer started, to that end buzzer and no one gave up. I think that we can hold our heads high because of that.”
“I guess the plan is, next four years, Rio we go one more.”
Australian star Kylie Gauci admitted the result had hurt, but was still proud of the team’s achievements.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game. I just prepared like it was any other game. I do this every single day of the week so I just prepared like it was a normal game. I felt I performed quite well individually. Unfortunately we weren’t better than them on the day, they played an awesome game, so it’s a little bit disappointing but we’re still second in the world,” she said.
“I was pleased with myself that I could step it up and do as much as I could for the team. We’re 12 deep so we do everything for each other.”
“It’s been awesome, I’ve enjoyed it so much, at the Paralympics it’s just a buzz. This is the highest level of sport you can achieve and we’re in the biggest game tonight that we can be at the Paralympics so I’m just super excited and proud of everyone on our team.”
It is the fourth consecutive Paralympic medal for the Gliders, who also won silver in Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004 as well as bronze in Beijing in 2008.