Australia hails most successful team, turns eyes to Brisbane 2032

PARIS : An emotional Chef de Mission Anna Meares hailed Australia's team at the Paris Olympics on Saturday and hopes their record-breaking performance in the French capital has lit a fire for the home Games in Brisbane in 2032.

Australia's 18 gold medals in Paris is their best tally at any Games and with 16 silvers and 14 bronzes already in the bag, they are only two more podium finishes away from matching the record 50 total medals they won in Athens in 2004.

Meares fought back tears on several occasions during her opening remarks at her final press conference of the Games and had to repeat her concluding comments to her team.

"I said to our teams as they were welcomed into the village, the pages of the chapter that is Paris 2024 were blank. They were there for them to leave their mark," she said.

"From a personal and a performance perspective, those pages are almost complete. The mark that this team will leave on those pages will show that they are the most successful Australian Olympic team. Ever.

"Congratulations. Job well done. Bonne journee. Au revoir. Merci beaucoup."

Australia will host the Olympics for the third time in 2032 and Meares said it was vital that the country invested in sport to ensure a good showing in Los Angeles in 2028 as a springboard for Brisbane.

"We have seen how successful the French team have been on their home soil," she said.

"Their athletes have inspired their nation. Obviously, we have an eye ahead to Brisbane 2032 and our performance in Los Angeles will be key to setting ourselves up for our home Games."

Meares said she thought having experienced what performing at home has meant to the French athletes in Paris would encourage Australian Olympians to want to be around 2032.

"So many