- Fans were left saying the same thing about a long jumper
- The athlete from Burkina Faso was competing in Paris
- READ: Fans demand Canadian hammer thrower take a DNA test
Australia may not have a representative in the women’s long jump final at the Olympic Games, but the nation is getting behind an athlete who hails a long way from home.
Germany’s Malaika Mihambo is the strong favourite to take gold in the field event in Paris, with Tara Davis-Woodhall and Larissa Iapichino looking to shock the reigning Olympic, world and European champion.
Yet the only contender fans were talking about on Thursday was Burkina Faso’s athlete due to her eye-catching surname.
Yes, Australians are throwing their support behind Marthe Koala, due to her affinity with nation’s much loved iconic animal.
‘I’m barracking for this athlete in the long jump,’ one fan said on X. ‘Australia loves you Koala.’
Another added: ‘Watching the women’s long jump final at the Olympic Games and the athlete from Burkina Faso is called Koala – and all I can think is “why isn’t she competing for Australia?!”‘
A third fan posted: ‘There is a long jump athlete named Koala, but she isn’t even Australian!’
The 30-year-old is supremely talented athlete and has competed in the 100m hurdles as well as the heptathlon during her career.
Fans were all saying the same thing about a long jumper from Burkina Faso at the Olympics
Marthe Koala was competing in the final of the women’s long jump in Paris on Thursday
Fans could not help but notice she shares her name with an iconic Australian animal
She is also a multiple-time African champion.
Koala is not the first athlete to be linked to Australia.
Earlier this week, Canadian gold medallist Ethan Katzberg’s distinctive look left many questioning whether he has Australian ancestry.
The hammer thrower certainly would not look out of place Down Under due to his long mullet and bushy moustache.
‘Nah I want a DNA test, this man is clearly Australian’ one person said on X.
Another said: ‘Canadians are Northern Hemisphere Australians. Request denied.’
A third fan quipped: ‘They’re just appropriating the Aussie male look.’
Earlier this week, fans suggested Canadian gold medallist Ethan Katzberg is actually Australian
Others likened Katzberg’s look to Neighbours legend Toadfish Rebecchi, while one fan joked: ‘DNA will prove him a German porn actor from 1978.’
Reflecting on his victory, the 22-year-old said: ‘I don’t think I expected it, but I had the preparation in mind to get a good round on the first throw, and to throw 84 metres felt really good.’
Hungary’s Bence Halasz won silver with 79.97 and Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan won bronze with 79.39.
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