1 00:00:02,390 --> 00:00:05,189 Speaker 1: Hi everyone and welcome to another episode of The Sit Down. 2 00:00:05,370 --> 00:00:07,370 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Trollope, a writer for AusOpen.com. 3 00:00:07,530 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 2: And I'm Viv Christie, Managing Editor of Australian Tennis Magazine. 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,319 Speaker 1: And Viv, why are we sitting down with Alicia Mollick 5 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:13,700 Speaker 1: this week? 6 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 2: Well, it's 20 years, can you believe it, since Alicia 7 00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:21,540 Speaker 2: won bronze at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and she 8 00:00:21,579 --> 00:00:24,220 Speaker 2: still describes that as the pinnacle of her career. 9 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,020 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was really cool to chat to her and 10 00:00:26,060 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: hear her reflect on that run in such vivid detail. 11 00:00:28,420 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: So let's have a listen now. Alicia Mollick, you are 12 00:00:34,860 --> 00:00:38,140 Speaker 1: joining us on the sit down today, almost 20 years 13 00:00:38,420 --> 00:00:41,340 Speaker 1: on from what I imagine must be a huge career highlight. 14 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,779 Speaker 1: And I just wonder what you remember about those games 15 00:00:44,780 --> 00:00:45,500 Speaker 1: 20 years on. 16 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,699 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, I can't believe it's 20 years ago. 17 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,980 Speaker 3: Quite amazing because it's all still really fresh in my mind. 18 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 3: And I think that, you know, the memory is so 19 00:00:56,340 --> 00:01:00,070 Speaker 3: vivid because it was just, I think, such a a 20 00:01:00,110 --> 00:01:04,979 Speaker 3: real moment, a turning point, a real achievement within my career. 21 00:01:05,810 --> 00:01:08,410 Speaker 3: I look back on it now, I can't quite believe, 22 00:01:08,550 --> 00:01:11,690 Speaker 3: you know, that it happened and that I achieved A 23 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,730 Speaker 3: bronze medal. I mean, the first thing that I really 24 00:01:14,770 --> 00:01:17,030 Speaker 3: think of was, you know, how difficult it was to 25 00:01:17,050 --> 00:01:22,890 Speaker 3: win a medal in Athens, not purely because of the venue, 26 00:01:22,910 --> 00:01:25,970 Speaker 3: the conditions. I think most days were 40 plus. So 27 00:01:26,130 --> 00:01:30,670 Speaker 3: I really remember that well. But secondly, the field, you know, 28 00:01:30,890 --> 00:01:37,430 Speaker 3: aside from myself winning bronze and then Emily Marismo Silva, 29 00:01:37,810 --> 00:01:42,929 Speaker 3: Justine Hennon, gold. was just, you know, phenomenal to be 30 00:01:43,050 --> 00:01:46,550 Speaker 3: within their company and standing on the podium. That's a 31 00:01:46,610 --> 00:01:49,730 Speaker 3: moment really etched in my mind that I will never, 32 00:01:49,810 --> 00:01:52,570 Speaker 3: ever forget. And, you know, the kids are now, you know, 33 00:01:52,610 --> 00:01:55,530 Speaker 3: leading into the Olympics now. Children start to do projects 34 00:01:55,590 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 3: and things and they have a keen interest in varied sports. 35 00:01:59,450 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 3: So it's nice to occasionally, you know, have some reminders 36 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 3: of it too, mostly every four years. 37 00:02:05,340 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: Two weeks before the Olympics, you won the Stockholm title. 38 00:02:08,700 --> 00:02:11,990 Speaker 1: And I just wonder... getting that win so soon before 39 00:02:12,030 --> 00:02:14,010 Speaker 1: the Olympics, like, did you feel you were coming into 40 00:02:14,110 --> 00:02:17,590 Speaker 1: Athens with like more momentum and confidence, um, as a 41 00:02:17,610 --> 00:02:18,150 Speaker 1: result of that? 42 00:02:19,150 --> 00:02:23,049 Speaker 3: Yeah, without question. And, um, uh, yeah, I do remember 43 00:02:23,110 --> 00:02:27,690 Speaker 3: playing in Stockholm. I, um, fortunately had won the singles 44 00:02:27,770 --> 00:02:30,169 Speaker 3: and the double. So I had a lot of match 45 00:02:30,210 --> 00:02:33,910 Speaker 3: practice in that particular week. And once again, it was warm, um, 46 00:02:33,970 --> 00:02:38,210 Speaker 3: conditions quite similar, almost quite similar to Athens. So Um, 47 00:02:38,410 --> 00:02:41,169 Speaker 3: everything was, I think, um, chipping in the right way 48 00:02:41,210 --> 00:02:44,350 Speaker 3: as far as preparation for the Olympics. Um, when I 49 00:02:44,410 --> 00:02:48,580 Speaker 3: competed in, um, when I competed in Sydney, I, I 50 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,820 Speaker 3: didn't quite, I was in the Olympics, but I didn't 51 00:02:50,980 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 3: really think I was at the level or believed I 52 00:02:53,419 --> 00:02:55,980 Speaker 3: was at the level to win a medal, but, um, 53 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,299 Speaker 3: most definitely arriving in Athens, having won a tournament, you know, um, 54 00:03:00,780 --> 00:03:03,870 Speaker 3: it being probably the best six months in all, you know, 55 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,700 Speaker 3: the best six months that I've ever had in my career. I, 56 00:03:07,050 --> 00:03:09,150 Speaker 3: I felt that I was a definite shot. So it 57 00:03:09,169 --> 00:03:13,470 Speaker 3: was a really different feeling going to the Olympics with 58 00:03:13,610 --> 00:03:15,330 Speaker 3: a medal in sight. I think there's a lot of 59 00:03:15,590 --> 00:03:19,910 Speaker 3: Olympians or a lot of competitors who go there to participate, 60 00:03:20,470 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 3: don't really have the full belief, don't have the full 61 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,460 Speaker 3: understanding of their ability and what it takes to win 62 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:28,419 Speaker 3: a medal. So that's what really set Athens apart. I 63 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: felt that I was ready. I was really well prepared 64 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:33,820 Speaker 3: and the result really showed. 65 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:38,910 Speaker 2: Yeah. Alicia, you beat Aisugi Yama, the number eight seed 66 00:03:39,330 --> 00:03:42,089 Speaker 2: in the quarterfinals. So that gave you, that guaranteed your 67 00:03:42,130 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: chance to play off for the bronze medal match. Can 68 00:03:44,740 --> 00:03:47,180 Speaker 2: you remember what that felt like, securing that chance? 69 00:03:48,820 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 3: The opportunity, getting myself into a position where it was just, 70 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,380 Speaker 3: you know, it was within sight. All of a sudden, 71 00:03:57,980 --> 00:04:01,260 Speaker 3: it's not about the matches. It It's a medal match 72 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 3: and it reads differently on the schedule. It feels different. 73 00:04:06,100 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 3: All of a sudden you're in contention for something that very, 74 00:04:09,660 --> 00:04:13,250 Speaker 3: very few people in the whole world have the ability 75 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 3: to ever put their hand up for. So it gave 76 00:04:16,580 --> 00:04:18,350 Speaker 3: me a real, you know, it gave me a sense 77 00:04:18,380 --> 00:04:20,950 Speaker 3: of pride that I'd put my country in that position, 78 00:04:21,010 --> 00:04:24,230 Speaker 3: myself in that position, my team in that position, you know, 79 00:04:24,310 --> 00:04:26,510 Speaker 3: and I couldn't wait for it. I was really looking forward. 80 00:04:27,390 --> 00:04:33,260 Speaker 3: So that following round, yeah, I really narrowed my focus. 81 00:04:33,339 --> 00:04:36,020 Speaker 3: I do remember my preparation and it was almost as 82 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:39,380 Speaker 3: if everything really condensed and you sort of block out 83 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,620 Speaker 3: the outside noise because it was about going that far 84 00:04:42,660 --> 00:04:44,660 Speaker 3: but making sure that I had a medal to take 85 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:45,500 Speaker 3: home as well. 86 00:04:46,370 --> 00:04:49,850 Speaker 2: Were you aware of what had happened to Anastasia Moschino 87 00:04:49,950 --> 00:04:52,830 Speaker 2: in the other semifinal before you faced her in the 88 00:04:53,010 --> 00:04:53,570 Speaker 2: playoff match? 89 00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:57,860 Speaker 3: Yeah, I had. I had. And in terms of I 90 00:04:57,900 --> 00:05:00,260 Speaker 3: think she had a couple of match points or a 91 00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:04,810 Speaker 3: match point away, I think, from beating Emily or Justine. 92 00:05:04,870 --> 00:05:07,490 Speaker 3: I can't remember who it was. But I feel like 93 00:05:07,529 --> 00:05:09,830 Speaker 3: she was in a winning position and she'd let it slip. 94 00:05:09,910 --> 00:05:13,989 Speaker 3: She'd completely let a match go. I think she got anxious. 95 00:05:14,029 --> 00:05:18,750 Speaker 3: She got nervous. And I remember her being completely devastated 96 00:05:18,830 --> 00:05:19,710 Speaker 3: walking off the court. 97 00:05:21,850 --> 00:05:26,510 Speaker 2: And can you describe the psychology of playing for the 98 00:05:26,529 --> 00:05:30,190 Speaker 2: bronze medal? Like you're balancing the disappointment of the semifinal, 99 00:05:30,370 --> 00:05:32,650 Speaker 2: yet you're playing for such a great prize. 100 00:05:34,110 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, you know, that's the difference with the Olympics. 101 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,500 Speaker 3: In every other tournament around the world, at some point 102 00:05:43,540 --> 00:05:45,940 Speaker 3: in time you get bundled out of the tournament unless 103 00:05:45,980 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 3: you're the victor. And, you know, for players such as, 104 00:05:50,980 --> 00:05:55,690 Speaker 3: you know, Serena and Novak and you know Venus and 105 00:05:55,810 --> 00:06:00,350 Speaker 3: you know these stars that continually make finals continually a 106 00:06:00,390 --> 00:06:04,890 Speaker 3: title winners you know that's always there so the majority 107 00:06:04,910 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 3: of tennis players around the world are losing every week 108 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:11,700 Speaker 3: and that's I guess that was pretty special to have 109 00:06:11,820 --> 00:06:15,490 Speaker 3: lost but still had a shot for the trophy, for 110 00:06:15,510 --> 00:06:17,990 Speaker 3: the bronze medal. So it still felt like a win. 111 00:06:18,010 --> 00:06:21,530 Speaker 3: It still felt, you know, and really not since junior 112 00:06:21,550 --> 00:06:23,830 Speaker 3: days do you lose and then you have another opportunity, 113 00:06:24,290 --> 00:06:26,930 Speaker 3: you know, in the feed-in event or you have something 114 00:06:26,990 --> 00:06:31,130 Speaker 3: else to win. So it didn't diminish the, didn't, you know, 115 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:36,660 Speaker 3: I still felt incredibly excited, incredibly proud. The fact that 116 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,140 Speaker 3: I was vying for a bronze medal, yeah, in no 117 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 3: way did it diminish my efforts as well in losing 118 00:06:42,620 --> 00:06:43,500 Speaker 3: the previous round. 119 00:06:44,350 --> 00:06:48,669 Speaker 1: Olympics returned to the Summer Games in 1988. And in 120 00:06:48,710 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: that time, you're the only Aussie that's won an individual medal. 121 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,620 Speaker 1: Any other time an Aussie's done it, it's been in doubles. So, yeah, 122 00:06:55,820 --> 00:06:58,339 Speaker 1: it's quite unique. And where does that kind of achievement 123 00:06:58,380 --> 00:07:02,060 Speaker 1: sit in the whole context of your career, considering that significance? 124 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,670 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's right up there. It's probably the proudest moment 125 00:07:04,690 --> 00:07:08,690 Speaker 3: of my whole career. I, you know, winning bronze means 126 00:07:08,750 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 3: that you walk away, you're exceptionally proud, you You get 127 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:16,660 Speaker 3: to take something home. You have a chance to step 128 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:20,660 Speaker 3: up on the podium. You still have a chance to 129 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 3: represent your country by, you know, being in that third 130 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:29,140 Speaker 3: place and being alongside complete champions of the sport. And 131 00:07:29,380 --> 00:07:31,350 Speaker 3: you've had a second bite of the cherry. You've made 132 00:07:31,380 --> 00:07:34,210 Speaker 3: the most of that. So it's a winning feeling. You 133 00:07:34,250 --> 00:07:36,090 Speaker 3: feel like you've won a Grand Slam. I mean, the 134 00:07:36,110 --> 00:07:38,510 Speaker 3: Grand Slams are the pinnacle of tennis. My bronze medal 135 00:07:38,550 --> 00:07:41,070 Speaker 3: was the pinnacle, I think, of my career, no question 136 00:07:41,130 --> 00:07:44,660 Speaker 3: about it. You know, you reference... how happy bronze medalists are, 137 00:07:44,780 --> 00:07:49,500 Speaker 3: and it's completely true. It's completely euphoric as well. You know, 138 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,170 Speaker 3: there's a really good, I remember reading an article once 139 00:07:53,190 --> 00:07:56,450 Speaker 3: saying that bronze medalists live longer than silver medalists because, 140 00:07:57,210 --> 00:08:00,410 Speaker 3: you know, if you win gold, yeah, things are great, Rosie, you've, 141 00:08:00,570 --> 00:08:04,570 Speaker 3: you know, you've reached the pinnacle in your sport, you know, 142 00:08:04,710 --> 00:08:08,730 Speaker 3: and the silver medalists always live with what could have been, 143 00:08:08,810 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 3: what should have been. You know, the disappointment, reliving all 144 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 3: the moments of where the gold medal match went wrong, 145 00:08:17,940 --> 00:08:20,350 Speaker 3: what they could have done better, living in regret. And 146 00:08:20,410 --> 00:08:23,650 Speaker 3: I think the bronze medalists, they said, you know, are 147 00:08:23,690 --> 00:08:26,970 Speaker 3: so happy with their performance. They've come away with something. And, 148 00:08:27,170 --> 00:08:33,290 Speaker 3: you know, I think it increases their living capacity by 149 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 3: a couple of extra years, the silver medalists. So I'm 150 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,860 Speaker 3: kind of glad... I got the bronze. You know, gold 151 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 3: would have been great, but, you know, it was the 152 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 3: most incredible feeling to, when I was presented with the medal, 153 00:08:46,179 --> 00:08:49,020 Speaker 3: you know, around my neck and had the wreath from 154 00:08:49,090 --> 00:08:53,170 Speaker 3: Athens as well, the olive leaves and the wreath that 155 00:08:53,190 --> 00:08:56,530 Speaker 3: they placed over our heads, it was, yeah, it was 156 00:08:56,610 --> 00:08:59,050 Speaker 3: a real pinch me moment that actually didn't feel real 157 00:08:59,070 --> 00:09:01,550 Speaker 3: at the time. It was something I never thought I 158 00:09:01,570 --> 00:09:03,850 Speaker 3: would ever experience because you watch it as a kid 159 00:09:03,910 --> 00:09:07,940 Speaker 3: and it feels so far away from, reality. You know, 160 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,540 Speaker 3: you see this thing, the Olympics on a screen every 161 00:09:10,590 --> 00:09:12,729 Speaker 3: couple of years, you know, the winter in between every 162 00:09:12,770 --> 00:09:15,770 Speaker 3: two years. And, um, you know, so the, the dream 163 00:09:15,790 --> 00:09:18,690 Speaker 3: became a reality. And I think at that moment it was, was, yeah, 164 00:09:18,730 --> 00:09:22,410 Speaker 3: I've never cried because of joy, but I did cry 165 00:09:22,450 --> 00:09:25,050 Speaker 3: that match. And it's never happened to me before in 166 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 3: my whole career where I have won a match. I'd 167 00:09:27,780 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 3: felt so proud of myself that I actually wasn't tears 168 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:34,130 Speaker 3: and I'd given everything. And It was the only time 169 00:09:34,190 --> 00:09:36,870 Speaker 3: it ever happened in my career. You know, tears of joy. 170 00:09:37,390 --> 00:09:37,650 Speaker 2: Wow. 171 00:09:37,929 --> 00:09:39,689 Speaker 1: Well, that speaks to the significance of where it sits 172 00:09:39,730 --> 00:09:41,010 Speaker 1: in your career, definitely. 173 00:09:41,610 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 3: You alluded to. 174 00:09:42,250 --> 00:09:44,059 Speaker 1: It earlier in the chat that you were on the 175 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:47,020 Speaker 1: podium with Justine and Amelie. So you'd lost the semifinal 176 00:09:47,059 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: to Amelie. She went into the gold medal match and 177 00:09:48,900 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 1: lost to Henan. And there's some great photos of the 178 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,990 Speaker 1: three of you appearing on the medal days. And you're 179 00:09:54,010 --> 00:09:56,349 Speaker 1: all talking to each other, I guess, after the anthems 180 00:09:56,410 --> 00:09:59,410 Speaker 1: or whatever. And there's photos of you and Amelie looking 181 00:09:59,429 --> 00:10:01,500 Speaker 1: at Justine's medal and you're all sharing a joke and 182 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:03,380 Speaker 1: you've all got the wreaths on your head. I just wonder, yeah, 183 00:10:03,420 --> 00:10:05,980 Speaker 1: what that moment was like sharing it with them because, 184 00:10:06,020 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: as you said, they were such champions of the game themselves. 185 00:10:09,820 --> 00:10:12,780 Speaker 1: And what was that like camaraderie like in the medal 186 00:10:12,820 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 1: presentation and when that was all happening? 187 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,979 Speaker 3: Oh, I'd never seen either of them smile that much either. 188 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. 189 00:10:18,770 --> 00:10:22,740 Speaker 3: You know, two athletes that keep their cards pretty close 190 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,820 Speaker 3: to their chest, well, they did in their careers between 191 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:30,260 Speaker 3: Emily and Justine. And so they were head over heels 192 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:34,809 Speaker 3: with their performance, their win, their medals. And, you know, 193 00:10:35,330 --> 00:10:37,130 Speaker 3: for all of us, it was a moment that we're all, 194 00:10:37,250 --> 00:10:41,449 Speaker 3: you know, comparing, you know, weights, colours. We were all 195 00:10:41,490 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 3: just so, so interested in... And I think, yeah, we're just... 196 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 3: all of us overcome with joy. And I have to 197 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,500 Speaker 3: say the same for Emily and Justine as well, that 198 00:10:52,580 --> 00:10:55,590 Speaker 3: it was just pure joy in that moment. And fortunately 199 00:10:56,550 --> 00:10:59,910 Speaker 3: for Justine, being able to experience her national anthem, the 200 00:10:59,950 --> 00:11:04,150 Speaker 3: Belgium national anthem, that was, you know, one step further 201 00:11:04,220 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 3: as well. It was, you know, that even gave me 202 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,540 Speaker 3: goosebumps listening to it as an Australian athlete. 203 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,900 Speaker 2: Obviously the Olympics is unlike any other experience that you 204 00:11:13,970 --> 00:11:17,110 Speaker 2: have on tour. What was it like being around the 205 00:11:17,309 --> 00:11:20,390 Speaker 2: Australian team more broadly, the Australian Olympic team and just 206 00:11:20,470 --> 00:11:22,330 Speaker 2: other great athletes of the world? 207 00:11:24,290 --> 00:11:27,980 Speaker 3: I think the, the absolute highlight is because throughout the 208 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,460 Speaker 3: year in a general sense in tennis, you, you aren't 209 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,059 Speaker 3: just following the summers around, but you are, you're amongst 210 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 3: tennis players all the time, tennis coaches, trainers, fitness trainers, 211 00:11:37,860 --> 00:11:41,979 Speaker 3: mind coaches, you know? So, You are around the same 212 00:11:42,020 --> 00:11:45,940 Speaker 3: people so often at so many varied tennis tournaments around 213 00:11:45,980 --> 00:11:48,940 Speaker 3: the world and all of a sudden you are travelling 214 00:11:49,020 --> 00:11:52,260 Speaker 3: on buses with the swimming team, with the table tennis 215 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:56,490 Speaker 3: team and getting to know other athletes outside of your 216 00:11:56,510 --> 00:12:02,070 Speaker 3: sport and really forming some great connections, learning about their journeys, 217 00:12:02,170 --> 00:12:06,590 Speaker 3: how they arrived there, learning more about other coaches in 218 00:12:06,630 --> 00:12:09,710 Speaker 3: other sports as well. Um, so you, you have this 219 00:12:09,809 --> 00:12:14,110 Speaker 3: huge amount of respect for everyone around you. Um, and 220 00:12:14,130 --> 00:12:16,770 Speaker 3: they're probably all the, the smaller moments that I really 221 00:12:16,850 --> 00:12:20,069 Speaker 3: enjoyed was, you know, um, going to, you know, pick 222 00:12:20,110 --> 00:12:23,370 Speaker 3: up your laundry from, um, you know, the, the laundromat 223 00:12:23,410 --> 00:12:25,590 Speaker 3: in the, in the village, but you might be in Athens. 224 00:12:25,630 --> 00:12:28,190 Speaker 3: I think the lines often for 25, you know, 20, 225 00:12:28,190 --> 00:12:30,460 Speaker 3: 25 minutes, inevitably there's a couple of Aussies in the line, 226 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:32,579 Speaker 3: you know, um, you let them jump in front of 227 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 3: you so they can get their laundry a bit quicker. 228 00:12:34,179 --> 00:12:36,990 Speaker 3: You start chatting and you just, have a little bit 229 00:12:37,010 --> 00:12:40,070 Speaker 3: of time to learn so much more about others that 230 00:12:40,130 --> 00:12:43,569 Speaker 3: you generally wouldn't have had the opportunity to do so 231 00:12:43,630 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 3: in crossing paths um also the apartment blocks are set 232 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 3: up so a number of sports and athletes are sharing 233 00:12:50,580 --> 00:12:54,300 Speaker 3: often on the same level so inevitably um you're having 234 00:12:54,380 --> 00:12:57,380 Speaker 3: coffee or a meal all together and that's a it's 235 00:12:57,420 --> 00:13:01,730 Speaker 3: a real highlight sounds so um normal but You know, 236 00:13:02,070 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 3: in a sport like tennis, we often just don't have 237 00:13:04,929 --> 00:13:07,380 Speaker 3: that opportunity. That's why it's just so extra special. 238 00:13:08,380 --> 00:13:11,979 Speaker 2: Were there any particular athletes that you can recall meeting 239 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,900 Speaker 2: and sort of connecting with and anything specific you learned 240 00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 2: from them? 241 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,860 Speaker 3: I think, well, I do remember having a photo with 242 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 3: Yao Ming and that was, I have to track that 243 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,490 Speaker 3: one down actually. I'm not sure what it really is, 244 00:13:27,570 --> 00:13:29,570 Speaker 3: but that was a real moment, you know, someone that 245 00:13:29,590 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 3: you've seen on TV. the basketballer for so many years. 246 00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 3: Probably within the Australian team, I think it was, you know, 247 00:13:37,300 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 3: I took a real interest in the group that were boxing, 248 00:13:40,590 --> 00:13:45,410 Speaker 3: learning about their journeys. Even our, I can't remember who 249 00:13:45,429 --> 00:13:48,969 Speaker 3: we shared with now, might have been actually the, I 250 00:13:48,990 --> 00:13:51,450 Speaker 3: think there was softball in Athens. I think we were 251 00:13:51,470 --> 00:13:53,270 Speaker 3: sharing some of the softballers, to be honest. 252 00:13:54,050 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 2: Did you get to watch other sports at all? What 253 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:58,059 Speaker 2: other sports did you take in? 254 00:13:59,390 --> 00:14:03,380 Speaker 3: Oh, very few. It was just because of the conditions 255 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:10,140 Speaker 3: in Athens, lining up with matches, playing doubles. It was 256 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 3: just a lot on the schedule. So I do remember 257 00:14:13,340 --> 00:14:16,339 Speaker 3: watching some cycling. I do remember heading over to the 258 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:20,990 Speaker 3: pool and watching some races, doing as much as I could. However, 259 00:14:21,090 --> 00:14:23,170 Speaker 3: hockey as well. I did take in a hockey game. 260 00:14:23,190 --> 00:14:25,750 Speaker 3: That was an evening game. Just it's a real balance, 261 00:14:25,810 --> 00:14:29,190 Speaker 3: you know, and that's, I think, the difficult part for 262 00:14:29,210 --> 00:14:31,830 Speaker 3: a lot of athletes to manage, the excitement of being 263 00:14:31,850 --> 00:14:37,870 Speaker 3: in the village, managing their training, managing their competition, you know, 264 00:14:37,930 --> 00:14:41,470 Speaker 3: even getting from, it's different to every other event because 265 00:14:41,550 --> 00:14:45,090 Speaker 3: even getting from your accommodation to the dining hall sometimes 266 00:14:45,130 --> 00:14:47,410 Speaker 3: can take 20 minutes by the time you've walked there, 267 00:14:47,490 --> 00:14:50,810 Speaker 3: you know, so there's just so many other factors that 268 00:14:50,850 --> 00:14:53,350 Speaker 3: you need to consider in your day of training or 269 00:14:53,390 --> 00:14:57,110 Speaker 3: preparation for your match. So, But, you know, you're at 270 00:14:57,130 --> 00:14:58,670 Speaker 3: the Olympics. You have to take some of it in. 271 00:14:58,750 --> 00:15:01,270 Speaker 3: I know there's lots of sports who choose not to 272 00:15:01,310 --> 00:15:04,090 Speaker 3: do the ceremony, not to take part in it, not 273 00:15:04,130 --> 00:15:06,950 Speaker 3: to go and watch any other sports, so no outside distractions. 274 00:15:07,470 --> 00:15:10,890 Speaker 3: I think it's a really fine balance. If I, yeah, 275 00:15:10,930 --> 00:15:12,700 Speaker 3: if I had a chance to chat to some younger 276 00:15:13,140 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 3: players who were representing Australia for the first time, I'd say, 277 00:15:16,260 --> 00:15:18,780 Speaker 3: you know, strike a really fine balance there. 278 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 2: And the opening ceremony, you did do that? 279 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:27,740 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah. We all, look... Very few players didn't take part. 280 00:15:27,820 --> 00:15:30,700 Speaker 3: And I think, you know, it's always, I think as 281 00:15:30,740 --> 00:15:34,420 Speaker 3: tennis players in general, we're quite flexible. You know, we're 282 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:37,950 Speaker 3: used to delays. We're used to waiting around quite a lot. So, 283 00:15:37,970 --> 00:15:41,410 Speaker 3: you know, in various tournaments, bad weather or various other reasons. 284 00:15:41,470 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 3: So the opening ceremony was always something which I enjoyed. 285 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,740 Speaker 3: opted in for. I mean, it's a real highlight. There's 286 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 3: a huge buzz amongst the village and especially when the 287 00:15:52,620 --> 00:15:56,660 Speaker 3: whole Australian team converge in their outfits, you can sense 288 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,630 Speaker 3: the excitement. Everyone's grabbing photos with each other. When the 289 00:16:00,690 --> 00:16:04,650 Speaker 3: flag bearers were announced, it's a huge, you know, again, 290 00:16:04,710 --> 00:16:08,610 Speaker 3: it's what you watch on TV and it's genuinely, you know, 291 00:16:08,810 --> 00:16:11,890 Speaker 3: you feel incredibly proud as an Australian in that moment 292 00:16:11,930 --> 00:16:17,150 Speaker 3: when you're about to walk into a stadium. You know, 293 00:16:17,170 --> 00:16:21,210 Speaker 3: the piercing screams and whistles, it's, you know, the roar 294 00:16:21,250 --> 00:16:22,730 Speaker 3: of the crowd, just phenomenal. 295 00:16:23,630 --> 00:16:26,750 Speaker 1: Were you aware of the response to your bronze medal 296 00:16:26,890 --> 00:16:28,490 Speaker 1: achievement back home in Australia? 297 00:16:29,270 --> 00:16:31,790 Speaker 3: Not really. And I say that because after the Olympics, 298 00:16:31,830 --> 00:16:36,110 Speaker 3: I headed straight to New Haven. So I was, you know, 299 00:16:36,450 --> 00:16:38,690 Speaker 3: barely had time to blink. I sort of, I think 300 00:16:38,710 --> 00:16:40,130 Speaker 3: I only had a day or two and I was 301 00:16:40,250 --> 00:16:42,530 Speaker 3: on a flight and You know, off to the States, 302 00:16:42,590 --> 00:16:46,250 Speaker 3: it was heavy preparation for the US Open. So that, 303 00:16:46,810 --> 00:16:50,850 Speaker 3: you know, was really immediate in my mind. So it 304 00:16:50,890 --> 00:16:53,670 Speaker 3: was sort of difficult to really catch yourself, enjoy it 305 00:16:53,810 --> 00:16:57,710 Speaker 3: too much. But I don't think I really realised perhaps 306 00:16:57,790 --> 00:17:05,070 Speaker 3: the momentum at home. Maybe now I recognise the significance 307 00:17:05,130 --> 00:17:09,949 Speaker 3: being the only singles medalist now, you know, in history, 308 00:17:10,030 --> 00:17:13,050 Speaker 3: and I'm really proud of that. you know, to me 309 00:17:13,109 --> 00:17:15,629 Speaker 3: it really solidified in my mind that, you know, I 310 00:17:15,670 --> 00:17:18,109 Speaker 3: was up there with the best of them, you know, 311 00:17:18,150 --> 00:17:21,570 Speaker 3: the handful of the best of them. So when you 312 00:17:21,650 --> 00:17:24,570 Speaker 3: genuinely feel that, it gave me a different outlook for 313 00:17:24,590 --> 00:17:28,030 Speaker 3: the US Open, for the remainder of the year leading 314 00:17:28,070 --> 00:17:32,100 Speaker 3: into the Australian summer. You know, it did and I 315 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 3: think I'd won almost the most amount of matches on 316 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,350 Speaker 3: tour that year in 2004 or close to. So... It 317 00:17:38,410 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 3: really helped almost provide an extra layer of armour for 318 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:45,899 Speaker 3: me for the Australian summer. I remember arriving ready for 319 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,940 Speaker 3: the lead-in events and the AO feeling pretty bulletproof. I'd 320 00:17:49,980 --> 00:17:53,429 Speaker 3: played so many matches. I'd won a heap. The bronze 321 00:17:53,490 --> 00:17:56,109 Speaker 3: medal sort of, yeah, propelled me forward in a sense 322 00:17:56,190 --> 00:17:59,570 Speaker 3: that it gave me, I think it gave me a 323 00:17:59,590 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 3: different appreciation for the level that I was at as well. 324 00:18:03,450 --> 00:18:06,950 Speaker 3: and a really different level of confidence being a medalist 325 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 3: at the Olympics. You know, it's helped propel me forward 326 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,780 Speaker 3: to that feeling of that I could win the Australian Open. 327 00:18:14,060 --> 00:18:16,920 Speaker 3: That's the only Australian Open I really felt it. Didn't 328 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 3: feel it in any of the other ones ever. 329 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 1: You kind of alluded to it before, but tennis players 330 00:18:22,220 --> 00:18:24,300 Speaker 1: get asked this all the time about where Olympic success 331 00:18:24,340 --> 00:18:27,060 Speaker 1: sits compared to Grand Slams, because it is that kind 332 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: of like, you know, the pinnacle of the sport. Some 333 00:18:28,820 --> 00:18:30,820 Speaker 1: people might say it's Wimbledon or the Australian Open or 334 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:34,189 Speaker 1: whatever like that, but it sounds like for you, the 335 00:18:34,210 --> 00:18:36,810 Speaker 1: Olympics is right up there, if not the best for you. 336 00:18:36,850 --> 00:18:40,250 Speaker 1: Like if you could choose a gold medal or a 337 00:18:40,270 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: Grand Slam singles title, what did you pick? 338 00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:45,780 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I wish I won a Grand Slam in 339 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 3: singles so then I could really tell you where it sat. 340 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,260 Speaker 3: But the bronze for me is, I mean, in fairness, 341 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,859 Speaker 3: lots of, you know, there's not many one-time Grand Slam winners. 342 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,580 Speaker 3: Most of the time there are multiple Grand Slam winners 343 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 3: and I'm pretty sure if you ask those players where 344 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,580 Speaker 3: they rate their gold medal, for those that have won 345 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,620 Speaker 3: a number of them, you know, Grand Slams get old, 346 00:19:08,820 --> 00:19:12,730 Speaker 3: bless Europe, you know, Serena or Novak at this point 347 00:19:12,770 --> 00:19:17,210 Speaker 3: in time, or perhaps Alcaraz down the track. The gold medal, 348 00:19:17,410 --> 00:19:19,750 Speaker 3: I can imagine, is always going to have a really 349 00:19:19,810 --> 00:19:24,620 Speaker 3: special place, probably front and centre in their trophy cabinets 350 00:19:24,670 --> 00:19:30,300 Speaker 3: at home. But for me, bronze was like gold. It 351 00:19:30,380 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 3: felt that it felt that I'd achieved everything in my 352 00:19:34,580 --> 00:19:38,060 Speaker 3: life and tennis. And it, it really, it really, really 353 00:19:38,100 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 3: did winning the bronze medal. It felt like gold. It 354 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:42,300 Speaker 3: could have been silver, could have been gold, could have 355 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,989 Speaker 3: been bronze, but I was absolutely over the moon. But 356 00:19:45,030 --> 00:19:48,230 Speaker 3: I think, it has a really special place for a 357 00:19:48,270 --> 00:19:52,020 Speaker 3: lot of athletes because of tennis being that individual sport. 358 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 3: But there are so many individuals who are so passionate 359 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 3: about their country, it's about playing for their flag. So 360 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 3: I think sometimes that's a little bit lost and diminished 361 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,120 Speaker 3: because of the fact that tennis players have so many 362 00:20:05,180 --> 00:20:08,440 Speaker 3: platforms throughout the year, which sadly other sports don't have. 363 00:20:08,540 --> 00:20:12,929 Speaker 3: So I think publicly and in the press sometimes, you know, 364 00:20:12,970 --> 00:20:16,010 Speaker 3: the worth of a medal to a tennis player isn't 365 00:20:16,050 --> 00:20:19,619 Speaker 3: always probably acknowledged as much as it should or given 366 00:20:19,650 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 3: the same attention. So, you know, hopefully that changes, you know, 367 00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:26,790 Speaker 3: people's perspective as well on it. 368 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,699 Speaker 1: We'll see, I guess, in Paris what the reactions are 369 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:31,060 Speaker 1: in the next week or two. 370 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 2: Alicia, we've heard you say that you weren't quite sure 371 00:20:35,180 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 2: where your actual medal was. 372 00:20:37,700 --> 00:20:39,770 Speaker 3: Yes. Yeah, and I still don't know where it is. 373 00:20:39,820 --> 00:20:42,400 Speaker 3: I talked to mum about it. I said to mum 374 00:20:42,740 --> 00:20:45,130 Speaker 3: I was going to do this interview and that, oh, God, 375 00:20:45,170 --> 00:20:48,390 Speaker 3: I said in the case and I still can't find it. So, look, 376 00:20:48,510 --> 00:20:50,690 Speaker 3: when I returned home from Athens from that whole trip 377 00:20:50,750 --> 00:20:54,090 Speaker 3: in America, I remember showing my medal to a lot 378 00:20:54,109 --> 00:20:56,330 Speaker 3: of people, friends. You know, I'd been invited to a 379 00:20:56,330 --> 00:20:59,990 Speaker 3: few schools to, you know, chat to various year levels 380 00:21:00,050 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 3: about the Olympics, about my medal, took it in to 381 00:21:02,130 --> 00:21:05,880 Speaker 3: show them. So I don't necessarily think I've left it anywhere. 382 00:21:05,900 --> 00:21:09,210 Speaker 3: I remember always keeping it in a, And two pairs 383 00:21:09,290 --> 00:21:16,199 Speaker 3: of really bright pink bed socks. And I think I 384 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 3: remember going back to, it was just a really busy time, 385 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:20,540 Speaker 3: but a year or two later going back to basically 386 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,399 Speaker 3: keep it in my sock drawer. And I thought that 387 00:21:23,460 --> 00:21:25,620 Speaker 3: wasn't a very good place. I think I remember going 388 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,409 Speaker 3: to mum and dad's house and popping it up in 389 00:21:27,430 --> 00:21:31,870 Speaker 3: their attic. I have had a little search. I've searched, 390 00:21:32,510 --> 00:21:35,710 Speaker 3: I've moved homes a number of times. I've searched everything 391 00:21:35,770 --> 00:21:38,710 Speaker 3: from top to toe. And I think I have to 392 00:21:38,750 --> 00:21:41,390 Speaker 3: give mum and dad's house in Adelaide another going over 393 00:21:41,430 --> 00:21:45,570 Speaker 3: because I just cannot find it. I cannot actually remember 394 00:21:45,590 --> 00:21:49,350 Speaker 3: where its final resting spot is. And it's a bit embarrassing. 395 00:21:49,430 --> 00:21:50,889 Speaker 3: And now my kids are at the age where I'm 396 00:21:50,950 --> 00:21:53,790 Speaker 3: sure they'd love to see it. So I probably need 397 00:21:53,810 --> 00:21:56,430 Speaker 3: to start looking at if I cannot find it, whether 398 00:21:56,490 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 3: I can get a replica produced. But it's so sad, 399 00:22:00,170 --> 00:22:00,460 Speaker 3: isn't it? 400 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 2: Well, it does sound like one of those things that 401 00:22:02,540 --> 00:22:04,340 Speaker 2: you'll find it one day and it'll be such a 402 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:04,899 Speaker 2: great moment. 403 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 3: It'd probably feel better than winning the actual medal, to 404 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,060 Speaker 3: be honest. That's probably going to be the highlight of 405 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,590 Speaker 3: my life. Never mind winning it on the tennis court. 406 00:22:15,970 --> 00:22:19,389 Speaker 2: Well, Alicia always thrived in a team environment. So it's 407 00:22:19,430 --> 00:22:23,050 Speaker 2: not surprising to hear that she describes the Olympics as 408 00:22:23,109 --> 00:22:26,190 Speaker 2: the pinnacle of her career and something that she'll remember 409 00:22:26,230 --> 00:22:26,889 Speaker 2: for life. 410 00:22:27,090 --> 00:22:27,790 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure. 411 00:22:27,890 --> 00:22:29,990 Speaker 1: And it was kind of at that time, that bronze medal, 412 00:22:30,060 --> 00:22:33,149 Speaker 1: also the pinnacle of kind of tennis performance because that 413 00:22:33,170 --> 00:22:35,610 Speaker 1: was the start of an incredible six-month run that extended 414 00:22:35,670 --> 00:22:37,369 Speaker 1: into January of the next year and she had her 415 00:22:37,470 --> 00:22:40,030 Speaker 1: best Grand Slam result by making the quarterfinals of the 416 00:22:40,070 --> 00:22:42,830 Speaker 1: Australian Open and yes it certainly kind of started with 417 00:22:42,850 --> 00:22:45,750 Speaker 1: that Athens run and you can actually look back at 418 00:22:45,770 --> 00:22:48,109 Speaker 1: that we've released the full match of Alicia Mollick's fourth 419 00:22:48,170 --> 00:22:50,790 Speaker 1: round win over Venus Williams and spoke to her about 420 00:22:50,850 --> 00:22:53,650 Speaker 1: that career best Grand Slam run and also yeah another 421 00:22:53,690 --> 00:22:55,859 Speaker 1: great opportunity to hear from Alicia talking about such a 422 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:56,630 Speaker 1: great part of her career. 423 00:22:57,270 --> 00:23:00,210 Speaker 2: We'll be back next Monday with another episode of The 424 00:23:00,250 --> 00:23:02,490 Speaker 2: Sit Down. And in the meantime, you can listen to 425 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 2: John and the team this Thursday on the AO Show Weekly. 426 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:07,919 Speaker 1: And details for how to contact us, as always, are 427 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 1: in the show notes. Please subscribe, rate and review. We'll 428 00:23:10,900 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: see you next week, Viv. 429 00:23:11,780 --> 00:23:12,180 Speaker 2: See you, Matt.