Bronze has Alicia on top of the world

Olympic goalkeeper for the Australian Women’s Water Polo Team, Alicia McCormack has always been a water baby according to mum Debra.

“She went to the amateur swimming club in Helensburgh, surf club as a nipper since she was less than eight, then a volunteer surf lifesaver until water polo, which she started in Year 7 at high school,” she said.

Mrs McCormack has been sitting in the stands at Beijing anxiously watching on as her daughter’s team competed for a medal.

“It was amazing, and so scary,” Mrs McCormack said. “Your heart’s thumping and your fingers are crossed.”

Mrs McCormack said that while being over in Beijing, there was a tight bond formed between other competitor’s families as they were all in the same boat.

“We would always swap our B tickets with a group who just saw their family play, so (the Australians) would all be together in section A, up the front, cheering them on,” she said.

To make the most of supporting their daughter, Alicia’s 19-year-old brother, another team mate’s daughter from another team who went to school with him and a few friends were always dressed for the occasion in green and gold, to cheer the Aussie team on.

With Alicia on her way back home from Beijing, proudly adding a bronze medal to her trophy collection at home, Mrs McCormack said that the Helensburgh community are eager to have a congratulations night later in the week.

“I’d like to thank everybody for their support, all the letters, cards, and heroes letters were amazing,” she said.