Tokyo Olympics: Stewart McSweyn proud of 1500m performance

The King Islander's time of 3:31.91 would have won every other Olympic final but saw him finish seventh in Tokyo.

"It shows how good the guys were tonight so credit to them," McSweyn said.

"I gave it everything, the six guys who beat me were just too good and I'm just going to have to keep working to get better."

The highest placed Australian in the event since Herb Elliott won in 1960, the 26- year-old member of Nic Bideau's Melbourne Track Club was third at the bell before Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen charged home in 3:28.32 ahead of Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot (3:29.01) and Brit Josh Kerr (3:29.05).

Having set an Oceania record of 3:29.51 in Monaco a month ago, McSweyn had been getting quicker with every race at the Olympic Stadium, clocking 3:36.39 in finishing third in his heat, 3:32.54 when fifth in the semi-final and then 3:31.91 in the final.

Despite the COVID-enforced lack of spectators, McSweyn said he could feel the support both in Japan and back home.

"What an atmosphere," he said.

"Growing up as a boy on King Island I never would have dreamt of making an Australian team let alone being in an Olympic final and finishing seventh so I've dreamt big since I was a kid and to fulfil that goal tonight was pretty nice.

"That last lap when I was hurting I was thinking of everyone who has put in work up to this point for my career and wanted to give it 100 per cent and everything I had for them and felt like I did that, so I've got to be happy with the final result.

"All the support I've had has got me to this point and I don't see why we can't keep getting better from here."

A veteran of global athletics championships and the elite Diamond League, McSweyn had also achieved the Olympic qualification benchmark in 5000 and 10,000 metres - the distances he ran at the 2018 Commonwealth Games - but opted to focus on the 1500. He was the final Tasmanian to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Tasmanian spearheading Australia's Tokyo Olympic team has thanked the 486 athletes involved.

Australia's tally of 17 gold medals equals the previous high mark achieved in Athens 2004 as 99 members of the Australian team took home a medal from 15 sports.

"Australians will remember this team for decades to come," said Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman.

"Their performances and the way they conducted themselves on and off the field of play has been superb. I am very proud of this group of young people. We talk about resilience and determination. These Olympic athletes have those qualities in spades.

"Australians have taken this group into their hearts because they recognised both their personal stories and their endeavour, be that a medal, a personal best, displays of bravery or those moments of emotion in victory or disappointment.

"While the medal tally was exceptional, the personal bests, the new national records and the many results that saw Australians finish just out of the medals, further demonstrated that this was a high performing team.

"You gave your best and you did us proud. You represented your country with distinction and gave great joy to so many at home enduring a difficult time."