Barry Hall surprises with a bronze medal at Splashies celebrity event in Gold Coast Games pool
AUSSIE rules legend Barry Hall is never known to back down from a challenge, but after his poor showing in the heats, no one expected the result he delivered in front of a packed crowd at the Commonwealth Games Aquatic Centre.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
COMPETITIVE swimming wasn’t just reserved for the pros at the weekend as Aussie celebrities took to the pool for a Commonwealth Games inspired showdown.
Retired Aussie swimming champion Melanie Schlanger showed she still had what it took to rule the pool, taking out the Splashies lilo race Saturday night, facing off against the likes of Home and Away favourite Ada Nicodemou, former rugby league player Lote Tuqiri and AFL great Barry Hall.
STICK TO TV Soapie star a natural – just not in the pool
SHREWD MOVE The best seats in the house are free
WILLIAMS IN WAITING Thorpe compares Campbell sisters to tennis legends
And while Hall may have only scored a bronze medal in the race, it was a triumphant comeback given he came dead last in the Splashies heats, which took place in March.
“This has been one of the great comebacks of the modern era. It is an effort that should be made into a documentary,” Hall told Games Confidential.
“ESPN should be all over it.”
The event also featured model Erin Holland and News Corp columnist and Nova radio host Jonathon Moran, as well as two competition winners Paul Hubbard and Alex Beaver, who came first and second, respectively, in the official overall results.
The stars hit the water at the Southport Aquatic Centre for the Optus event, which was aimed at encouraging people to be more active.
A preliminary event was held on March 1, which was won by Tuqiri, with Nicodemou disqualified for cheating.
Originally published as Barry Hall surprises with a bronze medal at Splashies celebrity event in Gold Coast Games pool
Push to change name of famous landmark
FIRST it was Burleigh Heads and Brisbane, now another world-famous Queensland place has been earmarked for a return to its Aboriginal name – but unlike the controversy around the others, indigenous leaders say it’s a no-brainer.
‘Dudded’ Games staff face long wait for pay
SECURITY staff at the Commonwealth Games who were short-changed on pay have been told they will be lucky if it’s fixed before June as GOLDOC and security contractors pass the buck.