Australia’s memorable moments at the Commonwealth Games

Keiran Perkins OAM at the 1994 Games 1,500m Freestyle. He set two world records (800m and 1,500m Freestyle) both in the 1,500m race.

Jane Flemming at the 1990 Games Heptathlon. 1st 6695 points.

The last medal won in the Pistol in 1994 made shooter Phillip Adams OAM the athlete that has won the most medals as a competitor at the Commonwealth Games – 17 medals (7 Gold, 8 Silver, 2 Bronze) won at four successive Games (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994).

Decima Norman’s performance in Athletics at the 1938 Games. 1st in all events in which she competed winning 5 Gold medals: 1st 100 yards; 1st 220 yards; 1st Broad Jump, 1st 440 yards Medley Relay; 1st 660 yards Medley Relay.

1954 Games in Vancouver: the Miracle Mile race and Silver medal to John Landy MBE (now Governor of Victoria). Excerpt from " Australia’s Complete History at the Commonwealth Games" by J. Blanch & P. Jenes, 1982: "The one mile, on the last day, August 7, was run in stifling 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius) heat. Landy ran the first lap in 58.2 seconds, with Bannister fifth in 58.9 seconds. At the half-way mark, Landy was keeping up the pace, running 1-58.2 to lead by seven yards (6.40m) from Bannister. At the bell, Landy had run 2-58.4 and Bannister had closed the gap to two yards (1.83m). When Landy led into the final straight, he glanced to his left while Bannister sprinted by to his right to win in 3-58.8. Landy’s time, in finishing second, was 3-59.6."

Tracey Wickham MBE’s performances in Swimming in the 1978 and 1982 Commonwealth Games: 1978 – 1st 400m Freestyle, 1st 800m Freestyle (WR), 2nd 200m Freestyle, 2nd 4x100m Medley Relay, 3rd 4x100 Freestyle Relay; 1982 - 1st 400m Freestyle, 1st 800m Freestyle and 2nd 200m Freestyle.

Heather Turland’s Gold Medal in the Women’s Marathon in 1998 at Kuala Lumpur.

In every Commonwealth Games since 1970 Australia has won the Men’s Cycling Sprint (and has won 12 out of the 15 times the event has been contested). Gary Neiwand won the race in three successive Games - 1986, 1990 & 1994.

Shane Kelly’s dominance of the 1000m Time Trial. In 1994 Shane Kelly, Darryn Hill and Tim O’Shannessey took all three medals in the event, the first time Australia had ever done so. In 1998 Australian cyclists again dominated this event with Shane Kelly, who was triple world champion at the time, taking the Gold.

Diver Don Wagstaff MBE repeated his double victory of the 1970 Games at the 1974 Games with a 1st in both the 3m Springboard and Platform.

Robert de Castella MBE in the 1982 Marathon at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia.

Cyclist Stuart O’Grady’s Silver medal in the 1998 Men’s Road Time Trial. Stuart had an exceptional first lap setting up a commanding time that would have been nearly impossible to beat. Unfortunately whilst trying to put the result beyond doubt he crashed and injured himself quite badly. His bike was wrecked and the changeover took far too long but Stuart still managed a truly remarkable second position. He required immediate medical attention after the race.

Majorie Jackson-Nelson AO, MBE won the sprints double (100 yards and 200 yards) in 1950 (as Marjorie Jackson) and 1954. In 1950 she equalled the World Record of 10.8s in both her heat and final of the 100 yards and equalled the WR of 24.3s in the 220 yards final. She won two more Gold medals in relays. Marjorie will be sworn in later this year as Governor of South Australia. In 1950 John Treloar easily won the 100 yards and 220 yards sprints double and anchored the 4x110 yards relay team to another victory.

Raelene Boyle MBE won the sprints double (100m and 200m) in 1970 and 1974. She was the last to win the female sprints double, a feat that had occurred at each of the nine Games since 1934. No female has won the double since.

In 1994 Kasumi Takahashi, at 14 the youngest of the Australian Team, won 5 Gold medals in Rhythmic Gymnastics – the Individual All Around, Ball, Clubs, Hoop and Ribbon.

The outstanding performance by Andrei Kravtsov in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics at the 1998 Games winning 4 Gold (Men’s Individual All Around; Floor; Pommel; Parallel Bars) and 1 Silver (Men’s Artistic Team).

1998 was the first Commonwealth Games in which a Squash competition has been held. At the inaugural event Australia won both the Gold (Michelle Martin) and Silver medals (Sarah Fitz-Gerald) in the Ladies Singles.

Weightlifter Dean Lukin OAM winning the Super-Heavyweight Combined in 1982 and 1986.

In 1990 Lisa Curry-Kenny OAM winning the 50m Freestyle, the 100m Butterfly, the 4x100m Freestyle Relay and the 4x100m Medley Relay and was 2nd in the 100m Freestyle.

Steve Moneghetti has competed at four Commonwealth Games. He was 3rd in the Marathon in 1986; 2nd in 1990 and 1st in 1994. In 1998 he finished 3rd in the 10,000m.

At successive Commonwealth Games (1958 and 1962) Tony Madigan won Gold medals in the Light Heavyweight Division. In 1954 he won the Silver.

Cathy Freeman winning Gold in the 200m and 400m at the 1994 Games in Canada. She carried both the Australian and Aboriginal flag in a victory lap after her win in the 400m. She also won Silver in the 4x100m Relay.

Hockey appeared on the Commonwealth Games program for the first time in 1998.

The Men’s Hockey semi-final between Australia and England was a memorable match with two overtimes and a sudden death required before Australia was victorious over England. Australia went on to win Gold with a victory over Malaysia.

The 1998 4x200m Swimming Relay Team (Ian Thorpe, Daniel Kowalski, Matt Dunn and Michael Klim) winning Gold in World Record time.

Kerryn McCann winning the women’s marathon at the 2006 Commonwealth Games running past the leader, Kenyan Hellen Koskei in the final 100m in front of 60,000 people in the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kerryn had won the same event four years before in Manchester.

Australian Men’s Hockey Team winning Gold Medal at Delhi 2010 Games making it 4 gold medals at each of the four Commonwealth Games (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010) at which the sport has been on the program.

Geoff Huegill at the age of 31 winning 100m butterfly at Delhi 2010 Games after making a comeback having been out of competitive swimming for 8 years. His winning time was faster than his Gold Medal swims in the same event at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur and 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.