Silver for Stingers after narrow defeat in Olympic water polo final against Spain | Paris 2024 Olympic Games

In the pool in Paris, as they tried to repeat the gold medal miracle of Sydney 2000, the Australian women’s water polo team tried their luck. In the run-up to Saturday’s final, three shootouts, including one that ended in sudden death, had gone their way. But against Spain, with a gold medal on the line, their luck finally ran out.

At first, however, that luck still seemed to be on their side at La Défense Arena. As the match wore on and Spain extended their lead, it looked as if the Tokyo silver medallists were getting the better of the Stingers. But time and again, just when their lead was becoming unassailable, the Australians struck back. It was brave, it was fortunate. Despite Spain being the better team, Australia opened the final quarter just two goals behind.

The legacy of that gold medal at Sydney 2000 was profound. Twenty-four years ago, it marked the Olympic debut of women’s water polo (despite it being the oldest men’s team sport on the Games’ program), and Australia’s last-second victory over the United States was a cult moment midway through those home Games.

Until Paris, the Stingers had never returned to the gold medal game. In the Arena, two players from that 2000 team were with the team in coaching and administrative roles. Another gold medalist was in the audience as an Olympic delegate; another member of that gold team is involved with the Stingers as a selector.

But eventually the luck ran out. And when Spain extended their lead to three midway through the final quarter, it looked like the Stingers’ luck had finally turned. The Stingers had been stung by Spain. As the clock ticked down, the Australians fought valiantly – Alice Williams added her fourth to put the Spanish lead back in sight, before Spain hit back again. Spanish goalkeeper Laura Ester Ramos was immense throughout the 32 minutes, making a number of remarkable saves, while the Spanish defence gave Australia their toughest test of the Games.

A late goal for Australia, from Sienna Hearn, raised hopes of another unlikely – but somehow inevitable – comeback. Another goal from Williams, with 19 seconds left, brought the game to within two. But there was not enough time left. Spanish flags in the crowd, which far outnumbered Australian colours, were waved wildly. Australia had put in a superb Olympic performance, beating the Americans and finishing with their best finish in 24 years. But it was not enough to get the Stingers past a formidable Spanish team, silver medallists three years ago and now champions in Paris.

“It’s obviously a disappointing result – we would have loved to have won a gold medal,” said Bronte Halligan. “But credit to all of us, all the girls, and to Spain, they played a great game. We really gave it our all in the pool – and that’s all you can ask for as a teammate. It was a great Olympics, we had the best time. We lived moment by moment – and I don’t think any of us have any regrets.”

Halligan, 27, who has played for Australia for a decade, said she hoped the team’s exciting run to the final would spark interest in the sport at home. “We hope we’ve inspired little girls at home to try the sport because it’s so much fun – we have the most fun playing it,” she said.

Twenty-four years after Sydney, the Stingers hope Paris is another legacy moment for Australian water polo. “We’ve got two Olympic gold medalists sitting on our bench, riding the wave with us,” Halligan added. “They’ve inspired our generation and we hope we’ve done the same. It’s not gold, but it’s silver and we’re really bloody proud of it.”