From rivals to Commonwealth Games teammates
BEACH volleyballer Chris McHugh spent the past decade building up a fierce rivalry with Victorian Damien Schumann. Now they’re set to team up at the Commonwealth Games.
Australian Team
Representing small club on international stage
STARPLEX Swim Centre high performance manager Stephen Garner saw James McKechnie’s potential seven years ago. Now McKechnie is set to make his Australian debut at the Commonwealth Games.
Bikinis, bodies, selfies: Athletes settle into Games village
IT looks more like a luxury resort holiday rather than one of the most competitive sporting events in the world, with competitors kicking back and relaxing in style at the Gold Coast athletes’ village. SEE THE PICTURES. (Pic: Instagram/@declancarruthers)
Alexander chuffed to land starring role
AUSTRALIAN netball coach Lisa Alexander first thought she was in trouble when contacted by Commonwealth Games organisers last week. But her worry soon turned to delight when she was asked to read the Coaches’ Oath at the opening ceremony.
Quiet achiever perfect fit to carry flag
MAL MENINGA calls him Cameron Smith with a hockey stick and he might just be the most honourable Australian sportsman you have never met.
Knowles to restore pride to Australian sport
SALLY Pearson has been pipped for the honour of carrying the Australian flag at Wednesday night’s Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in favour of hockey legend Mark Knowles.
Nipper’s best birthday present ever
GEORGIE Holyman turns 11 on Wednesday and will celebrate with a starring role in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
Perkins: Two world records, one furious coach
IT’S not often the thrill of breaking a world record is quickly followed by the sensation “Oh man, I’m in trouble” but that was exactly my reaction after the 1500m freestyle final in 1994, writes Kieren Perkins.
No hard feelings as Aussie chases NBA dream
BOOMERS coach Andrej Lemanis holds no grudge against Mitch Creek for pulling out of the Australian team on the eve of the Commonwealth Games.
Gymnastics success on Georgias’ minds
GOLD Coast-bred gymnasts Georgia Godwin and Georgia-Rose Brown have been selected to spearhead the women’s team with pivotal roles in their hometown Commonwealth Games.
Horton won’t ease stance on drug cheats
MACK Horton says he would have no hesitation in calling out cheats again if athletes were found to have brought drugs into the Games village.
Trophy-hunter Goulding chasing gold
FRESH from leading Melbourne United to the NBL title and claiming the Larry Sengstock Medal for grand final MVP, Chris Goulding has his sights set on Commonwealth Games gold.
Sharni Layton opens up on ‘mental health injury’
NETBALLER Sharni Layton says she has felt “really alone at times’’, breaking down as she talks about a “mental health injury” which has sidelined her for the Commonwealth Games.
Parker back from brink for Games chance
LAUREN Parker starts a new chapter in her life on Saturday, 354 days after she was convinced she had little to live for.
Lukin gets angry and grabs huge gold
AUSTRALIA had won Commonwealth Games gold medals in weightlifting before but no one had ever seen anyone like Dean Lukin.
‘We need you, Sally! Heroes are hard to find’
WITH Australia embroiled in a sporting armageddon, Hollywood superstar and Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe sees a saviour on the horizon. Enter Sally Pearson! And she’s up for the challenge.
How to get your exclusive Comm Games pin
ONLY 7 days to go! Get into the Games spirit with limited edition Gold Coast 2018 Official Borobi Pin Collection, available via the token in The Courier-Mail from Wednesday, April 4. Pin your hopes on the Aussies and collect all five!
Must-watch Comm Games showdowns
THEY are here! Some of the best athletes from around the world have hit the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games. Before things officially kick off, check out some of the biggest head-to-head battles we can’t wait for.
Perkins: Cate the key to Dolphins, Aussie hopes
A REFRESHED and confident Cate Campbell is in the form and mindset to trigger a Dolphins gold rush and our swimmers, in turn, will set the tone for the entire Australian team, writes Kieren Perkins.
Kurt Fearnley’s unforgettable Delhi debut
THE heat and craziness of Delhi in 2010 holds a special place in the heart of wheelchair champion Kurt Fearnley.
Cricket cheats won’t overshadow Comm Games
AUSTRALIA’S Comm Games competitors have the chance to restore the country’s pride on the back of the cricket cheating scandal that has left a disillusioned public questioning whether athletes can be considered role models.
When Tracey was queen of the pool
TRACEY Wickham was closer to pulling out of her final race than swimming for Commonwealth Games glory in 1982 when it took a crazy, horn-honking bus ride to get her to the blocks in the right mood.
Jamaica netball danger team at Games
It’s official. Australia’s biggest threat to their defence of netball’s Commonwealth Games gold is not New Zealand.
Riley puts 18th birthday plans on hold
RILEY Day will delay her 18th birthday celebrations this week to focus on a Commonwealth Games preparation which now includes a 200m race against Jamaica’s Olympic sprint double champion Elaine Thompson.
Confused, exhausted but McMahon nails it for Diamonds
THE gold medal match for netball at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester is remembered for being one of the greatest matches in the sport’s history.
Shooter heads to Commonwealth Games – at age 16
TORI Rossiter is in high school, learning to drive and loves going to the movies with friends. She is also heading to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next month with an air rifle – as the youngest member of Australia’s shooting team.
Shy kid who swam her way into Aussie hearts
AT only 15 years of age, Hayley Lewis became a household name with an inspiring performance at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.
Diamonds prepared for Silver Ferns form
AUSTRALIAN netball coach Lisa Alexander is expecting old foes New Zealand to perform far better than anyone expects at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
NSW Swifts down England in Games practice
THEY are the team touted as the most likely to cause an upset at the Commonwealth Games but the NSW Swifts have beaten England in a major upset.
Why Bruton says Boomers are right on target
CJ BRUTON was always proud to wear the green-and-gold singlet of Australia. But the Boomers guard remembers an extra imaginary feature on the basketball uniforms at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Sevens squads unveiled for Commonwealth Games
AUSTRALIA has unveiled its sevens rugby squads for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, with the code making its women’s debut at the tournament and the men looking to better their bronze medal from four years ago.
Match that broke Steve Waugh’s heart
STEVE Waugh loved every moment of the 1998 Commonwealth Games but losing the final to below strength South Africa left him furious.
Mottram’s perfect MCG race spoiled by an ‘unknown kid’
CRAIG Mottram says his kids don’t believe him when he tells them he owned the MCG for a night at the Commonwealth Games in 2006, but he did.
Genius swifty that left them all in Wenden’s wake
HE is one of the greatest Australian swimmers of all time but qualifying for the 1970 Commonwealth Games was one of the most bizarre experiences of his swimming career.
How Rocky steered Boyle to ‘82 victory
IT was the event which made her a Commonwealth Games legend but Raelene Boyle cannot hide the truth … she hated it, writes Robert Craddock.
Rising 800m star to face his biggest test yet
THE next lesson of Queenslander Joseph Deng’s athletics education will be to race two top Englishmen in Brisbane before his Commonwealth Games debut.
Gentle finds silver lining in hard fall
ASHLEIGH Gentle’s early disgust at crashing out of the opening round of the world triathlon series has turned to gratitude after she realised how close she came to missing the Commonwealth Games.
Hauser gets big boost in Mooloolaba
SOUTH African Richard Murray may have sealed the win but it’s Aussie young gun Matt Hauser that’s likely to have taken the most confidence from the Mooloolaba World Cup after finishing a close second to the triathlon heavyweight.
Bobby Knuckles wants his boots back
ROBERT Whittaker is set to again create history in April when he becomes the organisation’s first champ to compete at a Commonwealth Games.
The ‘Miracle Mile’ that almost killed a runner
IT was dubbed “the Miracle Mile”. But by the end of the marathon, a world record holder had wilted in the extreme heat and collapsed — within sight of the finish line — after covering a gruelling 27 miles.
‘The home crowd cheer would hit your heart’
THERE is nothing like a home crowd to spur you on to success. Just ask our history making female gymnasts who dominated in Melbourne in 2006.
How an unknown Aussie knocked off a giant of athletics
WITH a 50m lead heading into the final lap, reigning Olympic 5000m champion John Ngugi looked home for all money, but then Andrew Lloyd dug deep and something special happened. WATCH THE VIDEO.
Newley chasing golden piece of Games history
BRAD Newley is the only player left from Australia’s gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games team from 2006. Twelve years on, the veteran is aiming to become the only Boomer to win two Commonwealth titles.
Smile please! Meares’ bizarre pre-race request
ANNA Meares won three gold medals at the Delhi Commonwealth Games but she will remember the event fondly for a completely different reason.
Victory lap! Susie O’Neill’s act of rebellion
AT the 1998 Commonwealth Games Susie O’Neill owned the pool and decided to celebrate in an unusual fashion.
Crash fright for Games hope Ashleigh Gentle
ASHLEIGH Gentle has suffered a major fright on treacherous roads ahead of her bid to win Commonwealth Games triathlon gold.
Carnage as Gentle crashes in Abu Dhabi
COMMONWEALTH Games medal hope Ashleigh Gentle has survived a massive scare after coming off her bike on a dangerously slippery course in the opening round of the World Triathlon Series.
Pearson bombs ahead of Comm Games
AUSTRALIA endured a day to forget on day three of the world indoor athletics championships as main medal hopes Sally Pearson and Ryan Gregson crashed out in their semi-finals.
Lionhearted Willian kicking Games goals
IN HIS backyard fairytale, Luke Willian joined the Brisbane Lions’ Fab Four to kick them to premiership glory — but it’s the Gold Coast rather than the Gabba that holds the key to Willian’s sporting dreams.
Glasgow golden girl’s shock Games snub
DEFENDING Commonwealth high jump champion, Eleanor Patterson, has been sensationally overlooked for selection in Australia’s 109-member team for next month’s Games.
Refuelled Missile to explode in 100m final
THE Magnussen swagger is back. Already tagged the “alpha male” of the event, James Magnussen is supremely confident heading into the 100m final despite qualifying third fastest.
Olympic silver medallist fights back after hell year
MADELINE Groves says she has rediscovered her love of swimming after a tough year battling illness and a possible drug ban.
McKeown yearns for return to fearless rookie days
TAYLOR McKeown will head to the Gold Coast Games with a Commonwealth title, but the breaststroker is going back to the future in 2018 to combat a poor run of ‘terrible’ swims.
‘Multiple banned substances’: ASADA on Peris
JESSICA Peris was caught with evidence of three prohibited substances in her system when ASADA conducted an out-of-competition test in October last year.
Diamonds covered for injury drama
A QUARTET of netball stars of the future have been named to cover any injury crisis within the Diamonds ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Georgia inspired to reach perfection
AN inspirational speech by world gymnastic superstar Nadia Comaneci has been the secret ingredient behind the rise of Queenslander Georgia Godwin, who is in the box seat to snare Commonwealth Games selection.
Aussies to help Diamonds polish game
AUSTRALIA will look to its own talent for last minute preparations for the Commonwealth Games, avoiding all contact with rivals such as New Zealand and England ahead of the Gold Coast event.
Marschall gets holler for Games
SA POLE vaulter Kurtis Marschall is ready to soar for gold after securing his second-straight national title and confirming his place on the Australian team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
‘When I’m 100 per cent I’m hard to beat’
A RESURGENT Ryan Gregson showed why his name needs to be added to the Commonwealth Games medal chances after a barnstorming victory in the national 1500m final.
17-year-old emerges as Australia’s next sprint star
RILEY Day will go to the Commonwealth Games reminding herself she is “only 17’’ after racing to automatic selection in the 200m which clinched the sprint double at the national championships.
Denny hammers home his Games ambition
TWO national titles and two automatic berths for the Commonwealth Games – not a bad day’s work for Darling Downs thrower Matthew Denny.
Mathews back on track after dark year
THEY say you learn a lot about yourself in the darkest times.Luke Mathews is now a believer in that theory after a tumultuous 2017 that he describes as a “rollercoaster”.
England netball a danger team
AUSTRALIA’S top netball league has helped produce arguably the best netball team England has ever fielded at a Commonwealth Games.
Denny drops 12kg and hopes to milk the rewards
DARLING Downs athlete Matthew Denny has lost 12kg to give himself the best chance at gaining selection this week in two Commonwealth Games field events.
Javelin record broken days after Bannister’s death
JUST days after Australia lost its men’s javelin record holder Jarrod Bannister, Kathryn Mitchell has broken the women’s mark at an emotional track and field meet.
Ex-rugby player now a Commonwealth Games weightlifter
IN JUST one year South Australia’s Stephanie Davies went from her first weightlifting competition to Commonwealth Games selection.
Susan Pettitt’s relief at netball call-up
IT was a phone call Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander first made four years ago but it still ended the same way as it had in 2014 – with one of her players in tears.
Pearson eyeing off extra event at Games
SALLY Pearson will throw her hat into the ring for the chance to race a second event at the Commonwealth Games if Australia opts to field a relay team on the Gold Coast.
Why Laura Geitz is back, baby
NETBALL mum Laura Geitz and veteran Susan Pettitt are beneficiaries of coach Lisa Alexander’s proven policy of favouring form over history but fan favourite Sharni Layton is a casualty.
Netball Diamonds missing Sharni Layton
SHARPSHOOTER Caitlin Bassett will lead Australia into battle at the Commonwealth Games with veteran Susan Pettitt and former captain Laura Geitz also making the cut but Sharni Layton missing.
Teen emerges as McKeon’s biggest threat
OLYMPIC gold medallist Emma McKeon could tackle the 200m butterfly at the Commonwealth Games and it’s an 18-year-old that could prove to be her biggest challenger in the event.
Aussie Comm Games team uniforms unveiled
THE Australian team uniforms for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games have officially been revealed. The question is, are they a surefire winner or another epic fashion fail?
Relief as Aussie men avoid ‘big three’
THE Australian men’s team have been given a fighting chance to win a Commonwealth Games sevens rugby medal by avoiding the “big three” in the pool stages.
Fast track to Games
COMMONWEALTH Games sprint hopeful Alex Hartmann insists his best is yet to come as he prepares for his date with destiny on the Gold Coast this month.
Diamonds ready for battling Silver Ferns
A FORMER coach says the Silver Ferns can no longer consider themselves the second best team in netball but Australian won’t be taking them any less seriously.
De Rozario’s nervous wait for 10km test
SHE’S a multiple world champion, Paralympic medallist and the defending champion of the Oz Day 10km but none of that is helping quell wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario’s nerves.
New mum Geitz praises netball for support
DIAMOND great Laura Geitz has praised netball’s support of her dream to return to the highest level of the game as a new mother as an “amazing step forward for women’s sport”.
‘I do like a good Comm Games buffet’
WEIGHTLIFTER Damon Kelly will compete in his fourth Commonwealth Games this year and it’s lucky his love for the tournament buffets is matched by his love of gold medals.
Diamonds Games selection ‘difficult’
DIAMONDS coach Lisa Alexander says she is working with the strongest Australian squad she has ever seen, making the selection of the Commonwealth Games 12 the most difficult ever.
Teenager Page McGregor in Sevens heaven
WHEN Australia beat New Zealand for the historic women’s rugby sevens gold at the Rio Olympics, Bankstown’s Page McGregor and her sister were the only two in the room cheering.
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