Luke Mathews wins Australia’s first 800m medal since 2002

LUKE Mathews dedicated his surprise 800m bronze medal to his mother Liz, who has resurrected his career over the past nine months.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 12: Luke Mathews of Australia celebrates winning bronze in the Men's 800 metres final during athletics on day eight of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Carrara Stadium on April 12, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

LUKE Mathews dedicated his surprise 800m bronze medal to his mother who’d resurrected his career over the past nine months.

In one of the most bizarre races of the Games, Mathews looked cooked at the top of the straight when he faded to sixth.

But the race changed complexion over the final 50 metres when favourite Nigel Amos appeared to break down resulting in a flow on effect.

The wash-up was Mathews surging again along the inside to finish third with Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal taking gold in 1min 45.11 sec.

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Luke Mathews won Australia’s first 800m medal since 2002. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

England’s Kyle Langford came from last on the turn to grab second in a personal best 1:45.16 sec with Mathews clocking a season’s best 1:45.60 sec for bronze.

It’s Australia’s first medal in the 800m since Kris McCarthy won bronze back in 2002 and only the sixth medal in history.

Mathews, 22, had been coached by his mother Liz as a junior before joining Nic Bideau’s Melbourne Track Squad.

Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal won gold ahead Luke Mathews and England’s Kyle Langford. Picture: AFP Photo/Saeed Khan

However, he left Bideau a week before last year’s world championships in London where he went on to make the 1500m semi-finalist.

“That was for no-one else but Liz Mathews,” Luke said. “I’m proud of myself and I’m proud of her.

“We’ve worked hard for the past nine months and I need to go and find her to enjoy this.”

Fellow Australian Joseph Deng, 19, finished seventh while Amos faded to the back of the field.

Mathews will now turn his attention to the 1500m with the heats on this morning.

Originally published as Luke Mathews wins Australia’s first 800m medal since 2002