Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says Winter Olympic gold medallist Torah Bright was "like a cat on a hot tin roof" when he phoned to congratulate her on her win.
Bright won the women's snowboard halfpipe in Vancouver, recovering from a bad start after falling over during her first run on Cypress Mountain to finish first with a score of 45.0. Mr Rudd said the 23-year-old was electric with excitement when he spoke to her not long after her win.
"I just spoke to her 10 minutes ago on the telephone and she was like a cat on a hot tin roof," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
Mr Rudd said Bright was a great Australian athlete and the country was celebrating her achievement. "We're a country of wide open plains and great sandy beaches," he said.
"Less so a country of soaring alpine mountains of snow and ski slopes.
"On behalf of all Australians well done, we're so proud of you."
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has also congratulated Bright, who is from Cooma near the state's Snowy Mountains. She said it was "fantastic to see a NSW girl on the medal dais at Vancouver".
"Torah was a hot favourite leading into competition and her performance lived up to expectations," Ms Keneally said in a statement. "
It was something all of NSW residents can be proud of. "I'm sure it was an especially proud moment for parents, Peter and Marion, who had flown to Canada as a surprise to see Torah compete.
"I'm sure she will receive a fantastic reception when she returns home from competition."
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