George primed for big Olympics
EXTRA sessions with one of the Far North’s leading coaches at Cairns Basketball’s Aumuller St courts helped ensure Cayla George stayed fit and firing ahead of her second Olympic Games campaign.
The withdrawal of Liz Cambage has taken plenty of attention off the Opals in Japan, but an exhibition game win against the United States has proved this outfit can challenge for a medal.
Australia will open its women’s basketball campaign against Belgium, and George will be in the thick of it.
After the WNBL season ended earlier this year, George, who played for Melbourne Boomers, sought out respected Cairns basketball coach Kerry Williams to keep her on track for the Olympics.
Williams was more than happy to help.
“That’s all her,” Williams said. “Her work ethic to basketball is second to none, that’s why she’s an Olympian.”
Williams boasts an extensive basketball resume across all facets of the game.
He enjoyed a 105-game playing career at the Taipans, previously coached the Cairns Dolphins, and this year took on the head coach role for the Marlins. He is also a state performance officer for Basketball Queensland, the Cairns Taipans’ Indigenous Programs Manager, and BQ’s under-20s Women’s coach for 2021.
Earlier this year, he was assistant coach for the Boomers, when they faced New Zealand at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena.
But as Williams said, the credit belongs to George.
There’s not much new for the three-time WNBL champion to learn, so her sessions with Williams were about keeping her skills sharp for if and when the call to wear the green and gold came.
“She’s a veteran in the WNBL now, she’s been part of that Opals squad for a while so there’s nothing new to add to her game,” Williams said.
“She’s was just maintaining her fitness and staying sharp with her skills, so that’s what we did. We just got the shots up; keep her moving and keep her active.”
At an Opals training camp earlier this year, George opened up about just how much the opportunity to play at the Olympic Games meant.
“It means more than I can probably put into words,” George said. “As a kid, you want to represent your country, you want to go to the Olympics, and to me, it was always I just wanted to prove not only to myself, but to my family, make my family proud.
“Because the ripple effect it can have on the people around you is huge, right? So I wanted to do it not just for myself, but the people around me.
“It’s probably the most favourite team I’ll play for in my whole career.
“To be at the Olympic Games and standing in line with your teammates, singing the anthem and to represent not only your country, but your family, and the people who have helped you get there – coaches, teammates, everyone along the way.”
We caught a glimpse of that pride during the Opening Ceremony, with the telecast showing she and teammate Ezi Magbegor soaking up the unique atmosphere.
And we will see it again from Tuesday night, when she and the Opals begin their quest for an Olympic medal.