Commonwealth Games 2018: Quirkiest moments from day 3 on the Gold Coast

AUSTRALIA’S Francois Etoundi broke a fellow weightlighter’s nose four years ago, now he wants to make peace. Injured Indian athletes are in trouble, Missile’s bizarre gold celebration and a hell of a black eye this Welsh athlete. QUIRKY MOMENTS.

AUSTRALIAN star Francois Etoundi wants to make peace with a fellow weightlifter whose nose he broke with a headbutt at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Etoundi was ordered by a court in Scotland to pay 400 pounds ($560) in compensation to Gareth Evans, the Welshman who took gold in the men’s 69kg at the Glasgow Games.

Fresh from winning a bronze medal in the 77kg men’s event on Saturday, Etoundi now wants to speak to Evans in person so they can both move on from the incident which was triggered by a row over a female athlete.

“What happened in Glasgow, I just put it behind me. I moved forward and it made me learn something,” said Etoundi.

“I said to my team captain yesterday that when I finish my competition, I’m going to go and see the guy.

Francois Etoundi of Australia celebrates a lift

“I want to shake his hand and say, ‘OK, let’s forget the past’. I don’t know if he’s already forgotten, but I’m trying to act in the spirit of fair play and be a bigger man.”

Etoundi said he and Evans had crossed paths once or twice since 2014, but they ignore one another.

“All the time when I’ve seen him I prefer to stay away because I don’t want drama. But this is my home, so I want to make him feel welcome and move on,” he said.

“Sometimes people make mistakes.”

‘WE HAVE TO FIX EACH OTHER’S INJURIES’

INDIAN weightlifters have been forced to treat each other’s injuries after an accreditation bungle meant the team’s official physio has only limited access to venues.

Appropriate Commonwealth Games accreditation for team physio Aakrant Saxena was not filed in time, meaning he is only allowed to accompany his athletes during training sessions.

He is not allowed into the Games Village, nor can he treat team members during competition.

Team star Mirabai Chanu explained that the stuff up had left athletes with no other option but to treat each other.

“Athletes within our team have tried to treat each other’s injuries because our physio is not allowed to come into the Games Village or for our competition,” Chanu told Sportskeeda.

“I have struggled with my recovery due to the absence of my physio. Accreditation issues should have been sorted out earlier to enable our physio to be with us.”

While the error is clearly an inconvenience, so far it has not had a negative impact on results.

Across the first three days of competition, India has claimed three weightlifting gold medals, including Chanu in the women’s 48kg division.

Coogee Olympian, steeplechase runner Victoria Mitchell

FROM GANGRENE TO GOLD?

Ten days ago Victoria Mitchell was in hospital having her appendix removed. Sounds simple right?

Yeah, but imagine having that done and then competing a week and a half later!

For most people, running to catch a bus after would be too much after having an appendix out, never mind contesting a Commonwealth Games steeplechase.

Add to that the fact that Mitchell was then forced to remain in hospital an extra three days because her appendix was gangrenous, and you start to appreciate the fact she’s made it into her lycras at all.

She will start alongside fellow Aussie Genevieve LaCaze in four days, minus an internal organ.

HOW THE MISSILE CELEBRATED GOLD

James Magnussen didn’t exactly celebrate his latest Commonwealth Games gold in style.

The star - who helped bring home another gold for Australia in last night’s 4x100m freestyle relay -gave reporters an insight into his wild night.

“I celebrated with a drug test,” he said with a smile.

James Magnussen is seen during the Australian Swim Team training

“And didn’t get back to the (athletes) village until about midnight, so it was pretty low key.

Luckily for Magnussen, he has one eye on being able to celebrate properly in the coming days.

“We’ve got plenty of chance to do that next week,” he said.

NOW THAT’S A SHINER!

Wales women’s hockey player Leah Wilkinson is on track for gold in the, “Best shiner of the Games” event.

The star skipper sustained the nasty knock against England.

Wilkinson was forced to leave the pitch but soon after received some good news when she passed a concussion test.

She later posed for this photo showing off the damage.

Leah Wilkinson is on track for gold in the, “Best shiner of the Games” event.

‘LIKE A V8 AGA INST A V6’

Few could have summed up Stephanie Morton’s stunning win in the women’s sprint event at the cycling any better.

After burning up the track to claim gold against New Zealand’s Natasha Hansen, the commentator described just how dominant the Aussie sensation was.

“Not challenged, like a V8 against a V6. Morton is in another class in the sprint and she is a class above the entire field here.”

ICYMI

"Like a V8 agianst a V6". It's certainly been the 'Gold' Coast tonight.

Congratulations 🇦🇺 @StephanieMorton28 on going back to back Gold in the Women's Sprint.

Take a bow!#7CommGames #GC2018 pic.twitter.com/2DGKEvzKHd

— 7CommGames (@7CommGames) April 6, 2018

Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2018: Quirkiest moments from day 3 on the Gold Coast