Animal Olympics: Australia’s wildlife medalists

Australia’s diverse wildlife is nothing short of extraordinary, boasting a range of animals that demonstrate incredible speed, strength, agility, and endurance—traits that mirror those of top Olympic athletes. From the explosive power of the Red Kangaroo to the lightning-fast reflexes of the Eastern Brown Snake, these creatures embody the spirit of athleticism in the wild.

This blog explores the remarkable parallels between five land-based Australian animals and Olympic athletes, highlighting how the natural abilities of these creatures can inspire awe and admiration just as much as human feats in the world’s greatest sporting event.

Ken Griffiths / Alamy Stock Photo

Running

Running was the first Olympic sport, and today’s athletes compete in events ranging from the 100-metre dash to the 42-kilometre marathon.

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt currently holds the men’s 100m record, completing the distance in 9.58 seconds with a top speed of 44.72 km/h. Standing at 1.95 metres tall, Bolt’s top speed translates to nearly 6.4 times his body length per second.

Comparatively, the Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), which stands at an average of 1.75 meters tall, is an excellent runner that can travel great distances, and, when necessary, can sprint at 50 km/h. If an Emu were to complete the 100m sprint in 8 seconds (the estimated time for such a sprint), it would be traveling at approximately 6.25 body lengths per second. This is slightly more than Usain Bolt’s top speed of 6.4 body lengths per second, demonstrating the Emu’s impressive sprinting capability relative to its size.

* The fastest land animal in Australia by body length is a little beetle known as the Tiger Beetle (Cicindela hudsoni). The Tiger Beetle moves at a speed of up to 171 body lengths or about 350 km/hr. However, it does have the advantage of having more legs – but would take longer to complete a 100 metre event.

Ken Griffiths / Alamy Stock Photo

Sport climbing

The Rough-scaled Python (Morelia carinata) is a remarkable climber, adept at scaling steep rock faces with its textured, rough scales. These scales provide exceptional grip, allowing the python to navigate vertical surfaces effortlessly in search of prey or suitable habitats. Its climbing ability showcases a fascinating natural adaptation, as the rough scales enhance traction and manoeuvrability on uneven surfaces.

In contrast, Olympic sport climbing involves athletes scaling challenging rock walls equipped with handholds and footholds to scale artificial rock faces using a blend of strength, technique, and precision. Just as climbers rely on their grip and strategic placements, the Rough-scaled Python utilises its textured scales to maintain contact and stability on rugged terrain. Both the python and sport climbers exhibit an impressive ability to conquer vertical challenges, though the python’s natural adaptation contrasts with the climbers’ trained skills.

Imagebroker / Alamy Stock Photo

Long and high jump

The Olympic long jump is an event that combines speed, strength, and technique. Athletes sprint down a runway, then leap to achieve maximum distance. Their performance hinges on a powerful sprint, precise timing, and optimal technique during the jump phase to maximise their distance.

If a Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) were to compete in this event, it would bring its own unique advantages. The Kangaroo’s natural leaping ability, fuelled by its powerful hind legs and elastic tendons, allows it to cover distances of up to nine meters in a single bound when at its fastest speed (70km/hr).

The high jump would also offer minimal competition for Australia’s largest macropod. While their natural abilities do not include those of which to clear the high jump bar, they do have powerful hind legs and a flexible, muscular tail, which aid in impressive vertical leaps of up to three metres in height – leaving the competition over half a metre below.

Minden Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo

Diving

The speed at which an Olympic diver impacts the water can vary based on several factors, including the height of the dive, their body position, and their technique. In competitive diving, divers usually hit the water at speeds ranging from 40 to 56 kilometres per hour when diving from the 10-metre platform. Dives from lower platforms, such as three or five meters, result in slower speeds.

Weighing between 0.5 and 1.6 kg, the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a remarkable avian predator, known for its incredible power and speed when hunting smaller birds and bats in midair. When targeting prey, the falcon folds its wings and performs a dramatic dive known as a stoop, reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h.

This astonishing velocity can match or even exceed that of an Olympic archer’s arrow, which typically travels at speeds over 200 km/h.

Wesley Read/AWC

Weightlifting

One of the two lifts in Olympic weightlifting is the snatch, which involves lifting a weighted barbell from the floor and explosively raising it overhead in a single, smooth motion. Size provides an advantage in this event, so athletes are categorized by body weight to ensure fairness. For men, the lightest category is 56 kg, with Halil Mutlu of Turkey holding the snatch record of 137 kg set at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. For women, the lightest category is 48 kg, and Nurcan Taylan set the record with a lift of 97 kg at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

While lifting more than double one’s body weight is an extraordinary feat for humans, it pales in comparison to the strength of one of the smallest species found in Australia…ants.

Australia is home to over 1,300 species of ants, all of which can lift objects many times their own body weight, demonstrating remarkable strength relative to their size.

Australia’s diverse wildlife consists of a remarkable array of athletes, each showcasing extraordinary traits that echo the prowess of Olympic competitors.

From the powerful leaps of the Red Kangaroo to the Rough-scaled Python’s adept climbing and the Peregrine Falcon’s breathtaking dive, these animals demonstrate natural abilities that rival the skills of top human athletes.

Their feats in the wild highlight the incredible adaptations developed over time to thrive in their environments.