If the Melbourne Cup stops a nation, then surely on Monday the 400-metre women's freestyle final at the Tokyo Olympics stopped Tasmania.
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And unlike in the former, when only those who back the winner are left to celebrate, we are all sharing in the victory of Tasmania's own, Ariarne Titmus.
The swimmer who hails from Launceston, followed by many as she emerged as a junior with such potential, has won the state's first Olympic gold medal in 13 years.
In doing so, she conquered a legend in American great Katie Ledecky, who has won five gold and went into the games hoping to as much as double that.
In triumph, Titmus displayed a quiet modesty that is endearing to all; saying she had thanked Ledecky after the race, and explaining that she "wouldn't be here without her".
"(Ledecky) set this incredible standard and all credit to her for the swimmer she is and I've just been trying to chase her and it's really exciting now that we have this battle going," she said.
While she kept the emotions under control, her coach, Dean Boxall, let it all out, in exuberant scenes that - together with the bursting pride of her parents and family - showed a little of what it all truly means.
The training and the commitment, not only from Titmus but from her mum and dad, her coach, and everyone who has played a part in helping her along the way.
It's a journey that took her and her family interstate to ensure she had access to the best coaching; to give her the best chance of achieving her dreams.
Until relatively recently, realising the ambition of even competing in this games was surrounded in uncertainty as the pandemic continued to play havoc with all of our lives.
There were calls for the Olympics to be cancelled, and some may have been of the opinion that without the crowds, and with all the restrictions, it's just not the same.
Yet if we weren't already paying attention, Titmus has commanded it.
There may be a different feel to these Olympics, but the athletes are still giving their all, seizing their opportunities to make history and doing us proud.