UK TimesUK Times
  • Home
  • News
  • TV & Showbiz
  • Money
  • Health
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Web Stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release
What's Hot

Justin Baldoni comes face-to-face with Blake Lively for her deposition: report – UK Times

31 July 2025

link road from M6 J4A southbound to M42 J8 northbound | Northbound | Broken down vehicle

31 July 2025

Fox News anchor caught off guard when confronted with Fox’s bad poll numbers for Trump on inflation – UK Times

31 July 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
UK TimesUK Times
Subscribe
  • Home
  • News
  • TV & Showbiz
  • Money
  • Health
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • More
    • Web Stories
    • Trending
    • Press Release
UK TimesUK Times
Home » Emma McKeon and other Aussie Olympic legends were stunned into angry silence at Parliament House on what was supposed to be a joyful occasion. Here’s why…
TV & Showbiz

Emma McKeon and other Aussie Olympic legends were stunned into angry silence at Parliament House on what was supposed to be a joyful occasion. Here’s why…

By uk-times.com31 July 2025No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Emma McKeon was among a long list of Aussie Olympic legends who were left visibly dismayed by a speech by Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.

The athletes had gathered to see 121 members of Australia’s Olympic team finally get formally welcomed home after they defied calls to boycott the 1980 Games despite immense public pressure following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

While Anthony Albanese’s speech praising the team was warmly received, but Ley’s effort had the opposite effect.

Though she acknowledged the athletes in the chamber and said they should not have been subject to personal attacks, she also gave credit to those who abided by the boycott including sprinter Raelene Boyle and swimmer Tracey Wickham.

‘For many Afghan Australians who immigrated here and are now part of our Australian family … this boycott mattered,’ she told the House of Representatives.

‘The decision made by prime minister Malcolm Fraser to support the US-led boycott was the right one – and history has judged it so.

Emma McKeon (circled) and her sister Kaitlin (to her left) were among many Aussie athletes who were left stony-faced by remarks made by Sussan Ley in parliament on Wednesday

McKeon's father Ron was one of the members of Australia's 1980 Olympics team to defy calls to boycott the Games over Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. They were finally welcomed home in Canberra (pictured) with speeches by Anthony Albanese and Ley

McKeon’s father Ron was one of the members of Australia’s 1980 Olympics team to defy calls to boycott the Games over Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan. They were finally welcomed home in Canberra (pictured) with speeches by Anthony Albanese and Ley

Albanese's remarks were warmly received by the team members - but Ley's speech had the opposite effect

Albanese’s remarks were warmly received by the team members – but Ley’s speech had the opposite effect

‘That decision – correct as it was – takes nothing away from the Australians who did compete.’

The Olympians sitting in the public gallery greeted her words with stony faces, with some gasping during parts of the address.

None applauded at its conclusion, and many of the team members told News Corp they were ‘furious’ over Ley’s ‘tone-deaf’ remarks and accused her of politicising the event. 

Ron McKeon, the father of retired swimming superstar and Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma, was one of the 1980 competitors.

He and his family used the opportunity to celebrate his achievements as the source of inspiration for their own Olympic journeys.

‘Dad coached me growing up but never really spoke much about his Olympic experiences,’ Emma McKeon said.

‘I couldn’t imagine going through that – not having the ongoing support of the country – it would have been a huge struggle.

‘I’m so proud of him.’

Emma McKeon is pictured with her father Ron at the Tokyo Olympics. She voiced her pride in him after the ceremony in Canberra

Emma McKeon is pictured with her father Ron at the Tokyo Olympics. She voiced her pride in him after the ceremony in Canberra

Pictured: Anthony Albanese reacts as Ley addresses the House of Representatives on Wednesday

Pictured: Anthony Albanese reacts as Ley addresses the House of Representatives on Wednesday

The boycott was the largest in Olympic history, with just 80 countries competing in the games after they were snubbed by 45.

Though many countries, including the United States, Japan and West Germany took part in a full boycott, Australia opted to support the action but allowed athletes to make the final call over whether they would participate.

Yet many of the young sports stars felt they had been forced to cop the backlash from Australia’s protest, while Malcolm Fraser’s Liberal government continued to trade with the Soviet Union.

After most Olympic Games, Australia has celebrated its triumphs and welcomed its athletes with open arms.

Albanese acknowledged their participation and their pain in his speech.

‘When you choose to wear the green and gold, you should draw strength from knowing that the whole nation is with you,’ he told parliament.

‘Yet the returning athletes were met only by cold silence or cruel comments.

‘Today, we fix that… you have earned your place in the history of the game and our nation.’

Peter Hadfield was subjected to death threats and being spat on after he chose to represent Australia in Moscow.

He had previously won the Australian championship in 1976 but was not selected for that year’s Olympics in Montreal.

‘When the boycott was called in 1980, it looked like I was going to miss out on my second Olympics in a row,’ he said.

‘I was offered a bribe of almost my entire yearly salary not to go.

‘There was death threats, we were called ‘traitors’ in the media, family members were spat on.’

Michelle Ford was just 17 when she won one of Australia’s two gold medals at the Moscow Olympics.

‘We were told to sneak out of the country in case of threats on our team, on our lives – it’s quite hard for a teenager to take that,’ the former swimmer told AAP.

‘I wasn’t even voting age.’

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email

Related News

Revealed: The urgent deadline when Eberechi Eze’s £68m release clause ‘expires’ – as Crystal Palace hope to hang on to him amid Arsenal interest

31 July 2025

Southampton ‘REJECT Premier League club’s huge bid for Tyler Dibling’ as ‘multiple teams fight’ to sign England U21 international

31 July 2025

New York Yankees game brought to a screeching halt as life-threatening storms roll over the Bronx

31 July 2025

Newcastle refuse to deny Alexander Isak has gone AWOL after he returned to his old club to train while Toon are on tour in the Far East – as he hopes to force through record Liverpool move

31 July 2025

New York Yankees deal for coveted closer David Bednar from Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of MLB trade deadline

31 July 2025

Bella Hadid’s Wrangler denim shirt costs less than $50

31 July 2025
Top News

Justin Baldoni comes face-to-face with Blake Lively for her deposition: report – UK Times

31 July 2025

link road from M6 J4A southbound to M42 J8 northbound | Northbound | Broken down vehicle

31 July 2025

Fox News anchor caught off guard when confronted with Fox’s bad poll numbers for Trump on inflation – UK Times

31 July 2025

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest UK news and updates directly to your inbox.

© 2025 UK Times. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Go to mobile version