Australia topples its gold record in most successful Olympics ever (2024)

Australia has surpassed its greatest-ever Olympics performance with a historic day of medal wins in Paris.

In just over five hours, the team won four gold and two bronze, bringing the country's tally to 18 gold medals — its best-ever Olympic performance.

It also marked its best single day at a Games.

Australia is now ranked third on the leaderboard with 41 medals in total.

So far, it has won 18 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze.

And with the Games not even over, there are still chances for more history-making wins.

Here we break down the country's historic day.

Who won gold for Australia?

• Matt Wearn — Sailing: Men's Dinghy
• Keegan Palmer — Skateboarding: Men's Park
• Oliver Bleddyn, Kelland O'Brien, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy — Cycling Track: Men's team pursuit
• Nina Kennedy — Athletics: Women's pole vault

The total list of gold medal winners for Australia so far at this Games is here.

Who won bronze for Australia?

• Rhydian Cowley and Jemima Montag — Race walk: Mixed relay race walk marathon
• Matthew Denny — Athletics: Men's discus

How did it unfold?

The first medal of the night was awarded to Australian duo Jemima Montag and Rhydian Cowley, who claimed bronze in the mixed relay race walk marathon.

Montag entered the final leg in fourth place but produced a sensational walk to win bronze.

The gold rush began early in the night when Matt Wearn became the first Australian in the men's dinghy to win back-to-back gold.

It was a well-earned win for Wearn after the race was delayed by a day, and then delayed again.

Wearn could just about touch gold, only for the race to be abandoned with just one leg to go.

When officials restarted the race over an hour later, he did what he had to do to secure his medal.

A few hours later, 21-year-old skateboarder Keegan Palmer defended his title won in Tokyo to remain the only person to win the men's park final.

"Dude, I can't even believe it, bro. I literally, like I'm speechless," he told Channel Nine after his win.

"I got really lucky though by everyone kind of falling off on their last two runs, but I had something prepared if need be. I'm speechless though."

Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was watching.

"The idea that you could do these massive spins with the height that they get is absolutely incredible," he told ABC News Breakfast.

"And for our skater to win back-to-back golds after winning in Tokyo, as well as the golds that we have in sailing, in pole vaulting, is just absolutely incredible … the best-ever performance by an Australian team at an Olympic Games."

In the velodrome, the track cyclists won gold in the 4,000m men's team pursuit, beating rival Great Britain in a huge moment for Australian cycling, claiming its first title for the event since 2004.

"I think a lot of people kind of underestimated us," Sam Welsford told the ABC.

"I think we all knew that we had it in us."

And in the early hours of Thursday morning for Australia, Matthew Denny snatched bronze in the men's discus final, becoming the first Australian to win a medal in his event.

"Mate, look, for a kid from Allora to come here, it's pretty crazy," he told Channel Nine.

"I'm just thankful that people always back me. To those who didn't think I was going to do it … eat it!"

In a fairytale finish to day 12, Nina Kennedy won Australia's 18th gold of the Games in the pole vault to become the country's first female champion in a field event.

She cleared 4.90 metres to win gold ahead of Canada's Alysha Newman.

"We're in rare air. All of us. We've never had a Games like it," commentator Bruce McAveny said while covering the win for ABC Sport Radio.

"Forever and a day Nina Kennedy will be the athlete that took us to 18 gold medals."

Speaking with ABC Radio Perth, Kennedy's mother Gwenda Kennedy said she was "absolutely ecstatic".

"I had a quick little chat to her and said 'this one makes up for all the big competitions where she wasn't quite fit or injured or something went wrong' and for it to all come together tonight was fabulous," she said.

"There could be a few champagnes being consumed."

Olympic short track speed skater and Director of Sport at the Queensland University of Technology, Emily Rosemond, said the success across multiple sports this Games is "extremely encouraging".

"I think it's a real credit to the athletes and the coaches and their support staff," she said.

"I think there's been such a strong focus on athlete wellbeing in the lead-up to these Games and less about winning at all costs and as a result, I think that's made a huge difference to our performance outcomes that we're seeing in Paris."

What was the previous record for total Australian gold medal wins?

Australia's previous largest number of gold medals at an Olympic Games was 17 at Athens in 2004 and Tokyo in 2021.

The games with the most total medal wins for Australia was Sydney 2000.

What have been Australia's best single days at the Olympics?

The spectacular performance overnight also heralded Australia's most successful single day in Olympic history.

The previous record was set at Tokyo on August 1, 2021, where Australia picked up two golds in the pool as well as a win in BMX freestyle and sailing.

Here are Australia's best single days at Summer Olympic Games.

Who is winning the Olympics?

The US is in the lead with 27 gold and 94 medals in total.

China is second with 25 gold and 65 medals in total.

Could Australia win more medals?

The Olympic Games is not yet over and there are several events where Australia could medal again.

In the boxing ring, Caitlin Parker and Michael Senior will come away with at least a bronze in their respective semifinals on Thursday night.

The women's water polo semifinals will see Australia face off against defending champions the United States.

And Nia Jerwood and Nicholas Conor will race in the hope of a medal in the mixed dinghy medal race.

The full list of scheduled events for the rest of the games is here.