A home-grown hero, she’s known as one of Australia’s greatest Olympians and grew up right here in Lithgow.

The first Australian woman to win a track and field gold medal and the first Australian female runner to break a world record, Marjorie “Lithgow Flash” Jackson-Nelson has lived her life breaking barriers for the nation, athletes and women alike.

While her sporting days are over she has been fixed on Rio over the past couple of weeks and said she enjoyed what she saw.

“I love watching the men’s basketball and I watch what I can while I’m home,” she said, speaking to the Lithgow Mercury.

“And I’m watching Usain Bolt of course.”

Ms Jackson-Nelson said she got the chance to meet Bolt last year in France and was honoured to see what a great athlete he is.

Asked about what she thinks of Bolt’s astonishing skills and how it compares to when she was running, she said it was as if being asked to weigh up two completely different sports.

“When we got to the [1952] Olympics in Finland [the track] was on cinders which is like running on cement,” she said.

The athletes of today have it a lot easier now, for as the story goes Ms Jackson-Nelson used to train in sleet, fog and snow in darkness, with only car headlights to guide her way.​

“The tracks today, I’ve noticed, seem to spring more and the athletes hardly have any spikes at all on their shoes.”

Ms Jackson-Nelson said while she has not had much contact with many of the current athletes, she regularly catches up with cyclist and Australian team captain Anna Meares who also lives in Adelaide.

“She’s the most wonderful person you could meet.

“I was very proud because I know the time and effort she’s put into getting women’s cycling on the world map.”

While Meares’ disappointment in not clutching another gold was felt across the country, Ms Jackson-Nelson said Australia’s obsession with the medal tally is making us lose sight of what the games are about.

“I just think it’s a tragedy that you have to win medals or you’re no good.

“I guess you know the motto and I’ve lived my life by it… the important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part.

“The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”