Anniversary of Nova Peris’s Olympic Gold Medal

1 August 1996

On 1 August 1996 in Atlanta, Nova Peris won Olympic gold as a member of Australia’s women’s hockey team. The Australian Olympic Committee recognises her as the first Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal.

An Olympic milestone

The Hockeyroos defeated South Korea 3–1 in the final. This calendar uses the local Atlanta date, 1 August. It was already the morning of 2 August in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). These are two calendar dates for the same match, rather than separate achievements.

Individual achievement within a team

Peris’s milestone was part of a team performance built through training, selection and competition. Recognising her place in First Nations sporting history should also acknowledge her teammates and the collective work behind the result.

She later represented Australia in athletics at the Sydney Olympics. Her career offers an opportunity to explore the different pathways through elite sport and the experience of competing at the highest level in more than one discipline.

The anniversary can prompt a wider discussion about belonging, opportunity and how sporting history is recorded. Celebrate the result while considering whose achievements receive sustained recognition, who has access to facilities and coaching, and how sporting organisations respond to racism.

Reflecting and learning

Read the Australian Olympic Committee’s biography alongside the match record. How can a calendar clearly state an overseas event’s local date and its Australian date?

Start with the sources below and distinguish the original event from later interpretations and commemorations. When using this date in a classroom or workplace, allow time for questions and further reading. First Nations peoples have diverse histories and perspectives; this brief introduction does not speak for every community.

Sources and further reading

• Nova Peris — Australian Olympic Committee
• Atlanta 1996 women’s hockey results and final schedule — Olympedia
• Australia v Korea, Olympic gold-medal match — International Hockey Federation

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.