While the Australian Rugby Union team might briefly have denigrated our sporting prowess along the Champs Élysées, our reputation shall surely be restored in the Olympic swimming pool in Paris next July when Emma McKeon tops up her gold medal tally. (Champs & chumps, 26/9). As the rugby union nightmare this week became a hangover for some, the amazingly athletic McKeon had the crowd agape as her attendance at the opening of the Parramatta Aquatic Centre added sporting royalty to the West. (After a long hot wait, Parra finally gets its pool, 26/9). Eyeing off the glittering gold medals on the Lord Mayor Sameer Pandey’s chain of office, it was pretty clear Emma had one thing on her mind. Having got to meet her in their own pool, her massive new fan base will be cheering loudest for their favourite champion during the Olympic Games in 10 months. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 27Sep2023.