Narrabri’s Shannan Davey (boxing) and Laura Gourley (rowing) may have finished up their Olympics journey for 2024, but they are still their hometown heroes.
Davey, who had a record of 51 wins from 68 bouts, was the top seed in the 71kg division, and after a round one bye, stepped into the ring against European champion Rami Kiwan for his first taste of the Olympics.
From the get go Kiwan had Davey outmaneuvered leading to a clear 5-0 decision by the judges in the first round.
But that didn’t keep the New England local from fighting back. Coming out hard in round two, Davey landed some notable shots but despite his best effort, he went down in another 5-0 round.
Round three mirrored the first two, handing Kiwan the win and Davey the experience of a lifetime.
Meanwhile, from land to sea, Gourley was part of the Rowsellas Quad Scull team who finished second to Romania in the Final B division in 6:30.85 to secure an eighth place overall.
Hometown Heroes
Back home there was no lack of support beaming from Narrabri, as the town rallied behind their two athletes.
Trucks, fences and lots of shop windows were emblazoned messages of support as this double olympian town got into the spirit of the Games.
Green and gold draped business windows and school gates, as the generations sat and watched Davey and Gourley inspire the next generation of country kids to dream of the olympics.
There was even some mysterious crop circles appear, which the clever folk at Sydney University’s Plant Breeding Institute in Narrabri reckon will go gold for the closing ceremony.
No matter their placing, Laura and Shannon have grown up to be Narrabri’s – and the Nation’s – heroes.
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