Australia has capped its Paris Olympics campaign with a Bradbury-like medal in the men’s keirin cycling on the final day of the Games.

Matthew Glaetzer, who had been coming last, snatched bronze when three of his competitors crashed out before the finish line.

Glaetzer’s cycling compatriot Matthew Richardson won silver in the same event, which was nothing short of thrilling.

The Opals also climbed back onto the podium with their first medal in 12 years, defeating Belgium 85-78 and taking bronze.

But there was devastation in the women’s marathon when Australian veteran Sinead Diver pulled out after only 1.2 kilometres with severe cramps.

The women’s marathon was won by Dutch runner Sifan Hassan in a stunning sprint to the finish.

Australia finished fourth on the overall medal tally behind the USA, (which jumped to the top spot after winning gold in women’s basketball over France), China and Japan.

At the end of Australia’s best Games, the nation had a total of 18 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze.

Matthew Glaetzer on the podium after winning bronze. Photo: Getty

Glaetzer finally tastes success

Glaetzer was in last place on the final corner of the men’s keirin when three riders crashed, allowing him to breeze over the line.

That gave him bronze in his fourth Olympics, behind compatriot Richardson, who won silver, and Dutch master Harrie Lavreysen.

Winning his first individual medal after four Olympics campaigns was a rich bonus for Glaetzer.

“I’ve had a lot of bad luck in my career and jeez, it’s good to finish on some good luck,” he said.

“I’m just grateful I stayed upright on that final corner. They were bumping me and then I saw them all absolutely hit the deck.

“All of a sudden I saw I was crossing the line for bronze and I couldn’t believe it. I felt like a bit of a Steve Bradbury, but oh gosh, it’s amazing.”

Glaetzer had endured a succession of fourth places at his previous three Games and the traumas around Tokyo, when he overcame thyroid cancer and a badly blown calf to compete.

Australian chef de mission and former cycling teammate Anna Meares had hailed Glaetzer’s team sprint bronze as one of her Paris Olympics highlights.

Opals win bronze

For the first time in 12 years, the Opals have won an Olympic medal, the perfect send-off for Lauren Jackson in her fifth campaign.

Jackson was happy to sit back, watch and – for once – soak in what it feels like to win an Olympic medal after capping a remarkable comeback with bronze.

There were no minutes for the Hall of Famer in what was surely her basketball last game for Australia.

Ezi Magbegor played one of the great Olympic hands in a four-point defeat of Belgium to secure bronze in Paris.

Jackson, who had retired before the 2016 Olympics with three silver and a bronze already in her pocket, was used sparingly by her old teammate and coach Sandy Brondello in Paris.

“Lenny’s always like, ‘Mum why aren’t you getting on the court?’,” Jackson laughed, in reference to her eldest of two sons and his comments in Paris.

“But it was amazing.

“The last four Olympics, I’ve played minutes and don’t have memories of what it felt like to get a medal; they’re very vague.

“It’s soaked in, every single minute, and I will remember it for the rest of my life.

“It’s crazy … when I had them (her two children), there was no thought I was ever going to set foot on the court again.

“It’s happened and it’s been special.”

The Opals’ bronze medal run, filled with standout performances from young guns such as 24-year-old Magbegor, 21-year-old Jade Melbourne and Borlase also warmed Jackson’s heart.

Women’s marathon disaster

Australian veteran Sinead Diver was devastated to last only a kilometre of the Olympic women’s marathon before succumbing to severe cramps, but team officials insist she was passed fit to compete.

The 47-year-old Australian record holder had high hopes coming into Paris, having finished a gutsy 10th on her Games debut three years ago in Tokyo.

Diver struggled with plantar fasciitis in the build-up. Australian high-performance boss Andrew Faichney said the issue that caused her to pull out so early on Sunday was unrelated.

“I am comfortable with the decision to race, she was in the team camp medical and she and the medical team cleared her to run,” Faichney said.

“Today was completely unrelated to the plantar fasciitis in her right foot.

“She cramped in both quads and it started before the race.

“Obviously for her to have to finish so soon, it was extreme [cramping].”

The timing was particularly galling as four-time Olympian Lisa Weightman – who unsuccessfully appealed her non-selection for Paris – won the Sunshine Coast half-marathon in a fast time just a few hours earlier.

Had Weightman’s appeal in May been successful, she would have replaced Jess Stenson in the Olympic squad.

Women’s marathon winners Sifan Hassan (centre), Tigst Assefa (left) and Hellen Obiri on the podium at the Olympics closing ceremony. Photo: Getty

Stenson was Australia’s leading finisher in Paris, crossing the line in 13th spot.

Genevieve Gregson – who was 24th on Sunday – paid tribute to Diver’s resilience.

“I know that in the last few days she was not having the most ideal prep,” Gregson said.

“When we were all gathered in the callroom we had a big hug and just said ‘whatever you do out there today, we’re going to be so proud of you’.”

Australian men’s marathon record-holder Brett Robinson withdrew from the Paris Games with a glute injury just a matter of days before he was due to race.

Despite his disappointment, Robinson personally called Andrew Buchanan to tell him to pack his bags for Paris as his replacement.

-with AAP