“It will certainly be one of those ‘pinch me’ moments when the Australian team enters the stadium,” Damian said.

The Boomers had been in Argentina before heading to the athletes village in Rio. Damain said the first game against Lithuania was cancelled due to a leaking roof but they managed to play Argentina the next night.

He said they managed to get a great win in front of a very vocal home crowd.

“Argentina was great but I don't think the guys and I have ever been more affected by jet lag,” he said.

As the moments counted down to the opening ceremony, Damian’s excitement began to grow. He sat on the bus behind Sam Stosur and the tennis team on the way to the stadium.

Damian said his adrenaline was pumping as he entered the tunnel with all the other athletes waiting for their country name to be called. 

“It was felt by every Aussie marching,” he said.

Then the chants of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi Oi!” rang loud and clear as Australia was introduced.

“I had to stop, look around and soak in all the atmosphere.

“Truly a remarkable feeling,”

He said it was very special to see all the different colours and all the different uniforms. That combined with the energy of the athletes enjoying their last “moment of sheer jubilation” before the competition begins is something he will always remember.

Since the Boomers had their first game the following day, they left the ceremony shortly after walking through the tunnel. They slipped out a side door and took a bus back to the village to get some much needed rest.

“I couldn’t believe it was happening and before I knew it we were leaving,” he said of the whirlwind ceremony.

In the Boomers’ first game against France, Damain made his first appearance on the court in the fourth quarter. He sunk a three-pointer during the few minutes he was on before heading back to the bench.

The Boomers won 87-66.

They took out their second game against Serbia 95-80 on Monday (Rio time).

Next the Boomers play the United States at 8am (AEST) on Thursday.