Boomers & Opals throwback: The '64, '84 and 2004 Olympics

Paris is just around the corner. As the excitement builds we decided to take a walk down memory lane, throwing it back to the 1964, 1984 and 2004 Games.

1964

Boomers

Roster: Brendon Hackwill, Carl Rodwell, John Gardiner, John Heard, Ken Cole, László Hódi, Lindsay Gaze, Michael Ah Matt, Mike Dancis, Scott Davie, Werner Linde, Bill Wyatt

Result: 9th (4-5)

1964 was just the Boomers second time at the Olympics and at the time was the only occasion outside of when Australia hosted the Games in 1956.

60 years ago the basketball tournament consisted of 16 teams, with Australia’s 9th place and 4-5 record an over-achievement compared to their then minnow status.

Their wins came against Peru, Korea, Mexico, and Japan, and two of their five losses came by two points or less. One of those tight defeats was a battle against Yugoslavia who would go on to win a medal at five of the next six Olympics.

There was an even bigger story at play during the 1964 Olympics for Australia, with Boomer player Michael Ah Matt becoming the first Indigenous athlete to compete at a Games for the country.