Olympics: Excitement as Olympic ride begins for Nick Kay's family

The Tamworth product announced himself on the Olympic stage with a 12-point, eight-rebound, three-assist performance as the Boomers began their quest for their maiden medal with a scrappy 84-67 win over Nigeria on Sunday night.

For Nick it was the realisation of a dream and for proud parents Terrie and Paul a special moment.

"It was very exciting," Terrie said.

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Especially to see him contribute like he did, not that that surprised them.

"He played good minutes and I think he served the team well while he was out there," she said. "He missed a couple of shots but he held his own defensively and got some good screens."

It was the culmination of a build-up that started when he was named in the final team and ramped up on Friday night with Nick one of the lucky few to march in the opening ceremony.

Seeing him walk out was quite emotional Terrie said, the enormity of the occasion really starting to sink in. That was when it really hit that "this was really happening".

It was a bit of a nervous wait on Sunday but they just tried to keep themselves busy, she said.

They decorated the house with Aussie paraphernalia, and she played two games of hockey.

Originally meant to be in Taree with the Tamworth over-50s women's side at the masters state championships, things going to plan it could have been a tight shave to be able to watch the game live with the final sometime Sunday afternoon.

"I was doing the maths of the time (to get back to Tamworth)," she said.

In the end it didn't matter with the carnival called off.

The side did still get together for lunch on Saturday, donning the special t-shirts they had had made up featuring, on the back, the name of Tamworth's Tokyo trio - Kay, Kate Jenner and Stacey Porter- and their respective playing numbers.

"Every team when they go away to the masters has a theme," Terrie explained.

"Our theme this year was honouring our Olympians."

She said they have had lots of people reaching out and received lots of well-wishes and messages.

"I even went shopping yesterday and a lady said to me you must be going home to the watch the basketball," she said.

The principal at West Tamworth Public School, she recounted with a laugh how she was asked by one of the students on Monday if one of her brothers plays basketball.

She said a few other students had asked if that was her Nick they saw play.

They now await the Boomers next game which is against Italy on Wednesday night.

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