'The most special moment': Keesja Gofers spots daughter in the crowd before water polo gold medal match
PARIS: As the Stingers were introduced one-by-one to the crowd at La Defense Area before the women's water polo gold medal match, Keesja Gofers spotted her most special supporter.
Gofers' 16-month-old daughter Teleri has been a fixture in the stands as the Australians made a gripping charge towards the Olympic podium this week.
After the hard-fought 11-9 loss to Spain, which secured Australia's first-ever silver medal and best performance since a famous gold at Sydney 2000, it was Teleri that Gofers made a beeline for.
READ MORE: Meares tears up in tribute to Australian Olympians
Keesja Gofers with daughter Teleri after winning silver with the Stingers in Paris. Nine
Gofers described having her daughter in the stands as "the most special moment". Nine
Video of the beautiful moment was captured on Nine's broadcast of the Olympics.
"You know, when I walked out, I saw her right in front of me, and we made eye contact, and she pointed and she waved," Gofers told reporters, including Wide World of Sports, at La Defense Arena as the tears began to flow.
"It was just the most special moment."
Gofers with daughter Teleri after the gripping semi-final win over the USA. Getty
Gofers said the Stingers team, whose closeness has been obvious this week in Paris, had become another family.
"I had my daughter in the stands, my husband, my family and I had my sisters in the team standing beside me," Gofers said.
"And, you know, I couldn't be more proud and I couldn't be happier just to see these girls flourish and see what we've created in this group."
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Bronte Halligan was four when the Stingers secured that famous last-second gold at Sydney 2000.
She summoned that childhood awe when she hit the pool on Sunday (AEST).
"This morning I woke up and I said, 'Play for little Bronte and play for her and talk to that little four-year-old that fell in love with the Olympics,'" she said.
"I just had the best time and the only way I can describe it is joy.
"It has just been a joy to play, a joy to see the whole Australian community come along with us, and a joy to be around these girls day and day out for as long as we are."
Bronte Halligan channelled her four-year-old self in the final. Getty
Halligan is one of two Stingers who are the daughters of sporting royalty - her father is rugby league great and commentator Daryl Halligan while teammate Tilly Kearns' famous father Phil won two World Cups with the Wallabies.
She was part of the Australian squad that lost at the quarter-final stage in Tokyo three years ago and now finally has an Olympic medal.
"I dreamt it but I didn't know it was possible," she said.
"Today, making that dream a reality has just been the best experience of my life with, like coach said, with the 13 other players, but all the other girls that have been involved in the program and with all the staff, we've just created this big community, our little bubble, and we love it.
"I just don't want it to end. It's just been phenomenal."
