Tallent, Mr Jared

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (16:49): I move:

That this council congratulates Jared Tallent on rightfully being awarded a gold medal for the 50-kilometre walk from the 2012 London Olympics.

I rise today to acknowledge Australian Olympic athlete Jared Tallent on his outstanding achievements across three Olympic Games where he has won four medals in athletics. He has finally been awarded a gold medal for his outstanding performance in the 50-kilometre walk at the 2012 London Olympic Games. I am pleased that Jared has finally been recognised as the rightful winner of the 2012 Olympic gold medal for the 50-kilometre walk event.

Jared finished the 50-kilometre walk event in London in second place behind Russia's Sergey Kirdyapkin and at the time claimed silver. Since then, Sergey tested positive for a banned substance and was subsequently stripped of the gold medal he won at Jared's expense. Almost four years passed before this injustice was corrected. While we are very proud and happy for Jared that he has finally been presented with his gold medal in Melbourne, it is a sad fact that he has effectively been robbed, by a competitor's illegal drug use, of the simple human pleasure of enjoying his place on the podium at the 2012 Olympics in celebration of the pinnacle achievement of his athletic career.

Congratulations, Jared. You and your coaches have worked for many years towards this great achievement and, on behalf of South Australia, I thank you for your hard work and contribution to athletics. Jared has set a wonderful example for Australian children participating in Little Athletics. It is possible to aim to be the best and become just that through hard work, perseverance and by being a clean athlete.

This year at Rio, in the 2016 Olympic Games, we witnessed Jared win his fourth Olympic medal, a silver, in the 50-kilometre walk event. He finished the race just 18 seconds behind the Rio gold medallist, Matej Toth of Slovakia. Jared's was another incredible performance and one in which he again gave his all. Jared was wonderfully gracious in conceding the gold to his fellow competitor, Matej, and it is for this good sportsmanship, as well as his commitment to excellence, that we take pride in his world-class performance.

With his fourth Olympic medal, we salute Jared's remarkable achievements. His silver in Rio makes Jared one of the most decorated Australian male athletics Olympians of all time, with three consecutive Olympic podium finishes in the 50-kilometre walk event. Jared is truly deserving of being named the athletics team captain of Australia's team competing in Rio. We are incredibly proud of Jared's exceptional Olympic record, which speaks for itself. In the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games he won bronze in the 20-kilometre walk event. For the 50-kilometre walk event, he now has three medals: two silvers, won during the 2008 Beijing and 2016 Rio Olympics; and a gold won in the 2012 London Olympics.

In claiming two athletics medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Jared became the first Australian male track and field athlete in more than a century to win two medals at single Olympic Games events. In addition, he also won medals in numerous world championships and Commonwealth Games. Jared's career has reached incredible heights and he has confirmed a place in world athletic history for himself, South Australia and the entire country.

Jared's successes throughout his career are truly exceptional and inspiring. He cannot fail to impress with his commitment, drive and ambition, and most of all his achievement on the athletics field. Jared is undoubtedly an inspiration for the next generation of South Australian athletes. Growing up on a potato farm near Ballarat, Jared, now based in Adelaide with his wife and coach, Claire, has worked extremely hard to get where he is. He is now one of seven Australian men who can call themselves Olympic champions in athletics, joining Ralph Doubell, Herb Elliott, Edwin Flack, Steve Hooker, John Winter and Nick Winter.

The year 2016 will long live in Jared's memory. Along with being recognised as the rightful gold medallist in London and claiming silver in Rio, he was recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours and awarded an Order of Australia medal for his service to sport. I am sure everyone in this chamber will agree that it was very well deserved.

On behalf of the state government and the people of South Australia, I would like to take this opportunity to again thank and congratulate Jared Tallent and his wife and coach, Claire, on their phenomenal success and achievement, and wish them every success going forward. I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate all Australian, in particular South Australian, Olympians and Paralympians who competed at the Rio Olympics this year.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins.