Jack's pride at gold medal win after doping nightmare

Shayna Jack (centre) is sandwiched by her triumphant women's 4x100m freestyle relay teammates. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Three years ago, Shayna Jack was wandering around a zoo and full of envy.

Australia's women's 4x100m freestyle relay team were racing at the Tokyo Olympics.

But Jack's two-year doping suspension had just ended - it cost her the chance of swimming at the Tokyo Games.

Australia's team of Emma McKeon, sisters Cate and Bronte Campbell, and Meg Harris won gold in Toyko in a world record time.

"I was at Australia Zoo," Jack said after featuring in Australia's 4x100m free relay team which won gold at the Paris Games on Saturday night.

"I'm a really big animal lover, so is my partner, and I went to Australia Zoo.

"I still was tempted to watch ... and cheer them on, I love those girls.

"It was joy for them but it was also envy that I couldn't be there.

"I messaged each one of them after.

"It was one of those moments that gave me that fight to come back.

"It actually drove that passion to come back and be part of this team."

Jack, who has always maintained her innocence of doping, now will seek to come down from the Paris relay high and focus on her individual swims, the 50m and 100m freestyles.

"I have so many things I want to achieve this week," she said.

"I'm going to take that time at the end of the week to reflect but for now it's getting back in the pool, getting ready and striving forward to see what else I can do.

"Making the Olympic team was my first step and that was one of the most exciting moments, I didn't know where that was going to take me. 

"This is definitely a great start."

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store