One of sport's most enduring premierships ended on Saturday as John Coates stepped down as Australian Olympic Committee president after a 32-year reign that secured two Games for his nation and left a string of opponents trampled in his wake.
Dodgy hips prevented the 71-year-old from standing at the AOC's annual general meeting in Sydney, and he choked up with emotion at the end of his final president's address while thanking Australians for the chance to live his dreams.
Yet in all other ways, Coates was in control, basking in the warmth of a room filled with sports officials who have profited from his power and influence on the global stage.
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