'The real-life reality TV stars': Anna Meares in awe of Australia's Olympic athletes
Australia's Chef de Mission Anna Meares was overcome with emotion after a stirring video underlining the nation's gold medal performances at Paris 2024 introduced her segment on Nine's Today.
Featuring the triumphs of Grace Brown, Jessica Fox and Saya Sakakibara, the emotion provoked by the video was too much for Meares to bear.
"I couldn't watch," Meares said of the TV package produced by Nine on Tuesday morning.
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Anna Meares was taken aback during her interview on Nine's Today. Today
"It's hard enough to watch this live and to be around the athletes as they're exiting the Village and coming back.
"With the highs and lows and the mixed bag that we're experiencing with the third largest delegation and third largest team here in Paris. It is magnified when you add the narration and the music."
Bursting with pride for the Australian athletes she has mentored and counselled throughout the Games, Meares revelled in her fortunate position to watch people achieve their dreams.
"I've said all along, there's no guarantee. You can be world No.1 coming into [the Games], you can do all the preparation right but there's no guarantee at the end of the day," she said.
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"So, when it does happen and it does pay off, it's so rare and it is so special.
"It's really hard at times to put words to it so I'll leave it to the pros."
Meares revealed that she has been brought to tears several times throughout the Games, especially at the efforts of Australia's female competitors.
"You cannot script this stuff and that is what is so beautiful about it," she said.
"You could go through all of our medallists and all of our athletes [and find these moments]."
Meares was also in awe of how the athletes were presenting themselves as they experienced the highs and lows of competition.
"I've said numerous times, our athletes are the real-life reality TV stars," she said.
"We get to tune in, we get the privilege of watching an outcome that impacts their lives directly.
"Many of us don't have the courage to put ourselves in these positions to be critiqued and watched... It's really hard to try and find the comparisons [to everyday life].
"What I've been really proud about, and what I've been really appreciative of, is the storytelling.
"The athletes have been really genuine, they've been really vulnerable in both their losses and their success, they've been really honest and I think that allows us to be able to connect with them.
"I'm immensely proud of the vulnerability and authenticity that they're showing."
