Canoe Sprint

The ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Canada were a double delight for dual Olympian Aly Bull, claiming gold in the women’s K1 1000 and gold in the mixed K2 500 with Jackson Collins on Sunday.

“It’s been a good day. I really wanted to have a good start [in K1 1000]. I knew it was going to be long and I had to keep it strong but I also just wanted to save some energy for our mixed K2 which was a really tight turnaround,” she said.

Jackson was ecstatic with the result.

“It’s awesome, every time I think about it, I keep smiling. It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to go out there and race with Bully and now to be world champions together,” he said.

Aly’s medal haul from the World Champs is rounded out by a silver in the women’s K4 500, in a team with Ella Beere, Alexandra Clarke and Yale Steinpreis.

Jean van der Westhuyzen’s solo effort in the men’s K1 500 earned silver. He also teamed up with fellow Olympic champion Tom Green in the men’s K2 500 and finished with the bronze medal.

Full results here.

Cycling – Road & Track

Georgia Baker is the owner of three gold medals from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games after her latest accomplishment in the women’s road race.

The switch from track cycling (gold in the women’s 25km points race and women’s 4000m team pursuit) to road cycling went without a hitch, as the 27-year-old dual Olympian completed a dream Games.

She received great support from her cycling teammates on the 112-kilometre course in Birmingham’s south, and Sarah Roy also found her way onto the podium for bronze.

Athletics

Kelsey-Lee Barber has followed up her javelin gold at the World Championships two weeks ago with more gold at the Commonwealth Games, this time being pushed by another Aussie in Mackenzie Little.

Kelsey-Lee’s sixth and final throw (64.43m) propelled her to Commonwealth gold, with Mackenzie settling for silver after throwing a Personal Best 64.27 metres.

In the men’s 1500m Oliver Hoare put on a finish for the ages, as he entered the final straight in fourth but powered past world champion Jake Wightman (SCO) and Kenyans Timothy Cheruiyot and Abel Kipsang to snatch gold.

He’s the first Aussie man since Herb Elliott in 1958 to win 1500m gold at the Comm Games.

Kurtis Marschall became a back-to-back Commonwealth champion in the men's pole vault, the same feat achieved by Olympic champion pole vaulter Steve Hooker.

In Birmingham Kurtis cleared 5.70m for the gold, then lifted the bar to 5.81m for one shot at beating Steve's 5.80m mark.

Peter Bol has followed up his fourth-place finish in the 800m at Tokyo 2020 with a silver medal in Birmingham.

In a time of 1:47.66 the 28-year-old was 0.14 of a second off gold medallist Wyclife Kinyamal (KEN), which earned Peter his first international medal.

Cedric Dubler has backed up the bronze medal he won at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games with another in the men’s decathlon, with Aussie Daniel Golubovic landing silver.

Working off a 12-day turnaround from finishing the decathlon at the World Athletics Championships, they showed great perseverance to be highly competitive in the 10 track and field events.

Read more here.

Table Tennis

Yangzi Liu created history on Sunday in becoming the first Australian woman to win a singles table tennis medal at the Olympics, World Championships or Commonwealth Games.

It was a hard-earned bronze medal for the 20-year-old on her Comm Games debut, coming from a 4-3 victory in the bronze medal match against Sreeja Akula from India.

Read more here.

Diving

Australian divers took out four gold medals in Birmingham on the weekend, adding to Australia’s impressive medal tally from the pool at the Commonwealth Games.

On Saturday Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Smith became Commonwealth champions in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard final.

Then 14-year-old Charli Petrov in tandem with Melissa Wu claimed gold on the women’s synchronised 10m platform.

More gold was in store on Sunday for Maddison on the women’s 3m springboard and for Cassiel Rousseau on the 10m platform.

Beach Volleyball

Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett defeated Canada in a tight men’s gold medal match 17-21 21-17 20-18 to claim the Commonwealth title.

Chris and Paul saved two match points to beat Sam Schachter and Daniel Dearing. For Chris, this success adds to the gold he won at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar had a repeat of their 2018 Comm Games result, finishing with silver in a rematch of the 2018 Comm Games final.

Boxing

Adelaide’s Callum Peters put up an excellent fight in the middleweight division to earn silver on his Comm Games debut. The 19-year-old was part of a highly entertaining gold medal bout against Scotland’s Sam Hickey, which the judges ruled on with a 3-2 points decision.

Then 38-year-old Kaye Scott proved once again that age is no barrier in sport as she too claimed a silver medal for her efforts in the light middleweight division.

Hockey

The Hockeyroos will return home with silver as the Commonwealth Games gold medal match went the way of the host nation.

England finished the tournament with a 2-1 win over the Aussies, with a gallant Hockeyroos unable to recover from a 2-0 first-half deficit. Rosie Malone found the back of the net for Australia in the final minute.

The Commonwealth Games ends a two-month road trip for the Hockeyroos, which produced a bronze medal at the World Champs and silver in Birmingham.

Tonight it's the Kookaburras that have their shot at a seventh consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal against India from 9:30pm AEST live and free on Channel Seven and 7plus.

Tennis

At the site Nick Kyrgios last won an ATP singles title three years ago, he's been crowned an Open champion once again in Washington.

He got it done 6-4 6-3 in the final against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. Nick only dropped three points on serve for the entire match and didn't lose a service game throughout the entire tournament.

Shortly after in the doubles final with Jack Sock, the pair defeated Ivan Dodig (CRO) and Austin Krajicek (USA) 7-5 6-4.

It’s another encouraging result for Nick, who has won a doubles title in back-to-back weeks, as he builds for a US Open run at the end of this month.

Equestrian

London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic dressage rider Lyndal Oatley has produced her best ever World Championships score at a Grand Prix in Herning, Denmark on Sunday.

She scored 72.189% with Eros the horse, and together they have qualified as part of the top 30 to compete in the Grand Prix special.

While in teams competition Tokyo 2020 debutant Simone Pearce, riding Fiderdance, brought home the Australian Dressage Team’s performance at the Grand Prix – scoring 73.463%.

Overall the Team placed 8th in the 19-country competition.

Golf

Minjee Lee has finished on a tie for fourth at -7 in the women’s British Open in Scotland, three shots back of the winner Ashleigh Buhai (RSA). Aussie Steph Kyriacou finished a further two shots back to be in a tie for seventh.

Buhai had a comfortable lead heading into the final day but a shock +4 final round from her, compared to Minjee’s final round -2, made for an exciting finish.

The result consolidates Minjee’s position as the second-best ranked LPGA golfer in the world and earned her the Major player of the year award for having the most outstanding record across all five Majors in the LPGA season.

Surfing

The first Australian Surf Champions of 2022 have been anointed at North Haven Beach in New South Wales, as veterans Freya Prumm and Reef Heazlewood became national champions for the first time.

Reef finished well clear (15.5 points) of runner up Micah Margieson (11.65), and on the women's side Freya (12.4) got the better of Charli Hurst (11.35).

Read more here.

There was little wonder just how much winning the bronze medal match at Tokyo 2020 meant to the Australian basketball community, with history dating much further back than their fourth-place finish at Rio 2016.

It took 32 years after the Boomers made their Olympic debut at Melbourne 1956 to reach a medal match, where they went down to the USA 78-49 in the fight for bronze at Seoul 1988.

With NBA players allowed in Olympic squads from 1992, Australia still showed they were one of the best basketball nations in the world, going on to play bronze medal matches at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Rio 2016 – all ending in agonising defeat.

Competing at Tokyo 2020 was the 15th time the Boomers had sent a team to the Olympics, tied with Brazil for the second-most appearances in the world behind the USA.

Prior to Tokyo 2020, China’s and Puerto Rico’s men’s national teams were the second-most starved for a medal, having played at nine Olympics. Neither competed at Tokyo 2020.

Dual basketball Olympian Danny Morseu knows just what the Tokyo result meant. A proud Torres Strait Islander from the Kemer Kemer Meriam Nation who competed at Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984, Danny remembers the uphill battle the Boomers have faced over generations.

“At Moscow 1980 we were a semi-professional team. There were about 16 teams playing at the Moscow Games and we went so close,” Danny said.

“In our group we beat Italy, we beat Sweden by 20 and we were up on Cuba by nine and lost by seven.

“Italy had to beat Cuba by exactly seven points, otherwise we would have gone into the top six in the world to playoff for the medal rounds.”

Danny and the Boomers sat in the stands to watch Italy play Cuba, and you guessed it, Italy beat Cuba by exactly seven points.

“We’d only lost one game at the tournament and finished seventh. It was disappointing. Italy lost to Yugoslavia in the gold medal match. That could have been us.”

Danny’s nephew is fellow Olympian Patty Mills and both are deeply connected to their Torres Strait Island culture and heritage.

On the eve of the Boomers’ bronze medal match – where a tough matchup against Slovenia’s leader and opposing point guard Luka Doncic was impending - it was a significant period in Patty’s life for other reasons.

Only days prior Patty had the added requirement of needing to sort out his NBA future, as the free agency period had well and truly taken off with roster spots filling up at a blinding pace.

Business moves very fast in the NBA and the Olympics weren’t about to slow NBA teams down. It’s not uncommon for players to be offered a deal and to have an hour to accept a life-changing contract.

After 10 years with the San Antonio Spurs, Patty signed with the Brooklyn Nets – about 3,000 kilometres from where he was based in Texas and 11,000 kilometres from the Athletes’ Village in Tokyo.

As significant as basketball is, some things for Patty and Danny will always be bigger than basketball.

“I’ve seen Patrick was very close to his grandparents,” Danny said.

“Before he was going to play in the medal round, I went to their graveyard and took photos standing at their grave and sent it to Patrick and wished him all the best.

“I said ‘grandad, myself and the Torres Strait are spiritually with you’. It’s deeper than basketball and it connects with Patrick culturally and spiritually as a Torres Strait Islander.”

In June 2014 Patty had the thrill of playing in the NBA Finals with the Spurs against the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James.

Following game four of the series which carried enormous weight, Patty easily put everything into perspective.

“As far as I’m concerned, nothing that I do or nothing that gets in my way will even come close to my culture and my heritage. It doesn’t matter if it’s an Olympic Games or the NBA Finals, my family and my culture, where I come from, is by far first and foremost,” Patty said.

When things are good off the court, it shows on the court.

Patty, the Opening Ceremony Flag Bearer for Australia at Tokyo 2020, led the way from the outset against Slovenia - scoring 12 of the Boomers' first 25 points to give them a four-point early second quarter lead.

Shot clock winding down, ball in Patty's hands.

You know how it ended...#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/jxDmnInGcr

— 7Olympics (@7olympics) August 7, 2021

He was only just getting started, as Patty scored or assisted on 20 second quarter-points to give Australia a 53-45 buffer at half-time.

“When you get to this game and this point, it was really the two guys next to me (Patty and Joe Ingles) who were the most invested in this, 12 years of work, to do something that our country has never ever done,” Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said.

“Basically, the gameplan and what took place was to put the ball in their hands to make the decisions in the half-court offence.”

Joe Ingles and Patty Mills used to drive around Canberra in Joe's second-hand car and dream about their careers. Today Ingles put a bronze medal around Mills' neck. #Tokyo2020 #basketball

— Roy Ward (@rpjward) August 7, 2021

Luka Doncic hit a three-pointer with 4:35 left to pull Slovenia within six points, then Australia put the foot down to score 10-straight for an unassailable 102-86 lead which became a 107-93 victory.

On the Boomers’ fifth time around in an Olympic medal match, they wouldn’t come home empty handed. The drought was over.

In their 15th campaign.

In their 111th game.

65 years after their debut.

The Boomers have an Olympic medal! BRONZE FOR AUSTRALIA 🥉🇦🇺#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/bOW1hEQskt

— 7Olympics (@7olympics) August 7, 2021

Patty finished with 42 points and nine assists, supported by 16 from Joe and 14 from Jock Landale. Doncic was held to 22 points (7-20 FG), eight rebounds, seven assists and eight turnovers. Matisse Thybulle and Nick Kay were swarming defensively to pick up seven steals.

“There was no doubt in my mind going into this that he (Patty) was going to bring it home for us,” Joe said when reflecting on the bronze medal match.

Danny meanwhile was on an emotional rollercoaster.

“I was on Thursday Island at the time and when we won the medal I was crying,” Danny said.

“We were just jumping for joy and we just couldn't believe it. It was really, really special.

“We watched him go through the presentation and I was grateful Patrick acknowledged me in that first interview after the game, because I’ve been part of his journey all his life.

“We've been so proud of the team and Patrick’s leadership.”

"I don't know whether to cry, laugh, smile, a lot of emotions."

Patty Mills. A leader. A legend. #Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics pic.twitter.com/qjDAz9U51l

— 7Olympics (@7olympics) August 7, 2021

Patty’s leadership with the Boomers extends beyond the ‘gold vibes only’ Olympic campaign.

Boomers big man Aron Baynes was going through a harrowing ordeal at a time when he should have been side-by-side with the team and then celebrating their medal success.

Stuck in a Japanese hospital watching the bronze medal match on TV, due to severe neck and back injuries sustained in warmups and in the locker room from earlier in the tournament, Patty and the Boomers made a special gesture for the big man on the podium.

“To the big man! Baynesy, get ‘em boys, Big Banger! Get ‘em, Bangers!”

The long road back. Grateful for it all 🥉💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/ZbNquULKT3

— Aron Baynes (@aronbaynes) January 21, 2022

It’s also been Patty’s actions behind the scenes that have gone a long way to connecting the history of the Boomers with the current squad.

When it came to finding a way to celebrate the Boomers’ success from Tokyo in a pandemic restricted world, like he did on the court at the Olympics, Patty found a way to get the group together.

“We went on a Brisbane river cruise, Patrick organised it all, and a tour of the city with all the Boomers who had been to the Olympics or the World Championships,” Danny said.

“We had a big celebration and spent some really good quality time together. Just yarning on about the experience, what it felt like winning a bronze for Australia and how proud he was as a Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal person.”

Former players such as Brian Kerle, Robert Sibley, Leroy Loggins and Nathan Jawai travelled from far and wide to meet up with the Tokyo 2020 rose gold medallists.

“Then we got presented with an Akubra hat with a number on it, a personalised number for each Boomers player. He's created this Australian Boomers club now where he’s given Boomers numbers out to players who played in the past.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat)

While Patty has been a part of the Boomers since being named to the squad as a 17-year-old in 2006, the youngest ever for Australia, getting there didn’t come without obstacles.

 
“They thought he was too small. When I went to the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) I watched Patrick, he was playing way above all the other kids. Joe Ingles, he was way up there too,” Danny said.

“Brian Goorjian was the one that opened the door for him, he gave him the opportunity. Patrick took a step forward, put his foot in the door and everything is history after that.”

Patty’s first taste of the Olympics at Beijing 2008 was before he played in a professional game, with his NBA debut not until 2009.

The proud Kokatha, Naghiralgal, Duaureb-Meriam man has led the Boomers in scoring during all four of his Olympic campaigns and had Joe Ingles by his side.

“We’ve been through a lot together, on the court, off the court,” Mills said on the night they won bronze. “It’s all paid off.”

Since London 2012 Patty has shown remarkable longevity, having averaged more than 21.2 points per game to be among the top three scorers at London, Rio and Tokyo.

Back home in the Torres Strait, basketball is the sport of choice in a lot of ways due to Patty Mills.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Patty Mills (@balapat)

Kids have been inspired and are letting their imagination run wild with their own sporting dreams. With Queensland locked in to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, there’s an extra incentive for the youth of today who can aim to represent Australia at the Olympics in their own state.

Take Carmen for example, Patty Mills’ niece who wants to follow in his footsteps.

It’s Patty’s impact in sport and the community that this year led to him receive the nation’s highest accolade, the Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

As for the immediate future of Australian men’s basketball, and looking ahead to the next Olympic campaign at Paris 2024, there’s a young brigade who are on the path to carrying the Boomers forward.

19-year-old point guard Josh Giddey turned in an excellent NBA rookie season in 2021-22. This year another guard Dyson Daniels was a top 10 selection in the 2022 NBA draft. Then there’s Matisse Thybulle, Jock Landale and Josh Green from the Tokyo 2020 squad who are on NBA rosters and are set to hit their prime.

With under two years until the 2024 Olympics, bring on Paris.

Olympic spirit in the Torres Strait

Olympians shared the Olympic spirit at the top of Australia, with a special NAIDOC week trip to the Torres Strait.

Six Olympians, four Indigenous Olympian Coaching Scholarship coaches and members of the Royal Australian Air Force helped run a community basketball day and BBQ for more than 50 Torres Strait children and their families, as well as a special Olympics Unleashed milestone.

Find out more here.

Olympics Unleashed passed 250,000 milestone

The NAIDOC week Olympics Unleashed visit with 50 students in Thursday Island created a remarkable milestone, with 250,000 students across the country having taken part in the program.

Yuin woman and racewalker Beki Smith (London 2012) and Dunghutti boxer Brad Hore (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004) shared their Olympic journey with Torres Strait students, sharing their own Olympic journey and how it can help the kids achieve their own goals.

The 250,000 milestone has come from 1,885 school visits, with more than 250 Olympians trained to deliver the program around the country. It also includes 25,000 students who received virtual Olympics Unleashed visits during lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.

Find out more here.

Olympic ‘Walk With Us’ forum celebrated Indigenous achievements

The AOC has held its second ‘Walk with Us’ forum to cap off NAIDOC Week, celebrating Australia’s 60 known Indigenous Olympians and acknowledging Australia’s Indigenous Olympic history and achievements.

Indigenous Olympians Patrick Johnson, Beki Smith, Danny Morseu and Kyle van der Kuyp were joined by AOC CEO Matt Carroll, AOC Athletes’ Commission members Kenny Wallace and Greta Small along with Director of From the Heart Dean Parkin in an open panel session at Meta Headquarters in Barangaroo, Sydney.

The panellists explored the theme of ‘Walking Together’ split into three yarns - Leaving Footprints, Creating Footprints and Future Footprints to discuss where the Australian Olympic movement has come from, current projects and future opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Find out more here.

10-year Green & Gold Runway to Brisbane 2032 launched

More than 10,000 South East Queenslanders shared in the celebration to mark the start of the 10-year Green & Gold Runway until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Saturday 23 July was exactly 10 years until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Opening Ceremony – and community members celebrated by joining Olympians and Paralympians in having a go at a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports across Queensland.

Check out all the action below.

#HaveAGo Month and Brisbane 2032 Digital Time Capsule

In the month between Olympic Day on 23 June and to the start of the Green & Gold Runway on 23 July, young Australians got involved in the Olympic movement in a number of ways.

Throughout the month, thousands of Australians tried their hand at different Olympic sports, tracking their progress and sharing their experience.

Young Aussies also shared how they want to be a part of Brisbane 2032, submitting videos of their goals for how to be involved in the Brisbane Games to the Brisbane 2032 Digital Time Capsule.

Check out one of our time capsule entries below and submit yours here.

Tokyo Olympians joined the fun at National Primary Games

Tokyo Olympians Jess Pickering, Keesja Gofers and Dominic Clarke joined more than a thousand students at the National Primary Games in Tamworth.

The festival of sport for children aged 8 to 14 featured two days of sporting activity, including football and gymnastics.

“Here in Tamworth we want to help inspire kids to stay involved in sport, have fun and work towards any goal they have,” said Tokyo 2020 trampolinist Dominic Clarke. “Watching these amazing young gymnasts have such a great time brings me back to my first competitions which ignited my love for the sport.”

Australian Olympians received grants from the World Olympians Association

Olympians Rachael Lynch and Selina Scoble each received grants from the World Olympians Association (WOA) for separate projects to promote Olympic values.

Hockey player Rachael Lynch will deliver coaching clinics and face-to-face mentoring for young women across Australia, with a particular focus on rural areas, while volleyballer Selina Scoble has developed message bracelets that promote motivation, inspiration and happiness – each handmade bracelet containing a mantra to assist personal mindsets.

Find out more here.

Australian Olympic Change-Maker student nominations

Australian Olympic Change-Maker nominations continued to fly in, as schools nominate students to be rewarded for demonstrating the Olympic spirit in their communities.

From major projects to small acts of positivity, we have seen the impact youth can have on their communities and schools are taking the opportunity to recognise these inspirational students.

High school teachers can nominate students now until Friday 26 August – find out more and nominate your Australian Olympic Change-Makers here.

AOC President Ian Chesterman says Doug Donoghue made an enormous contribution to AOC over many decades of service.

“He was fundamental in the management and growth of our Australian Olympic Foundation that will provide a lastingly legacy for Australian athletes.

“He played a pivotal role on the Executive and I personally learnt a great deal from Doug when I served along side him when I first joined the Executive.

“Doug was a kind and loyal man who gave so much to the Olympic movement in this country, as well as his beloved sport of rowing. 

“We are all saddened by the news of his passing and he will be greatly missed.

IOC Vice President and IOC Member John Coates paid this tribute to Doug Donoghue.

Swimming

With her three Commonwealth Games gold medals in Birmingham so far, Emma McKeon has become the most successful Comm Games athlete of all-time - in addition to being Australia’s most successful Olympian.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Emma McKeon (@emmamckeon)

Wins in the women's 50m freestyle, mixed 4x100m freestyle relay and the women's 4x100m freestyle relay have taken her personal historical Comm Games gold tally to an unprecedented 11 medals. Emma has accumulated 27 medals from two Olympic Games (five gold, two silver, four bronze) and three Commonwealth Games appearances (11 gold, one silver, four bronze) to date.

Tokyo 2020 Olympians Madi Wilson, Kiah Melverton, Mollie O'Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus set a World Record in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay. Their time of 7:39.29 was more than 12 seconds ahead of their next closest rivals Canada.

In the men’s 200m breaststroke Zac Stubblety-Cook’s gold medal completes a rare feat, as he has become the current Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games champion in the event.

Australia had a clean sweep of the podium positions in the women's 200m freestyle (Ariarne – gold, Mollie – silver and Madi – bronze), the men's 400m freestyle (Elijah Winnington – gold, Sam Short – silver and Mack Horton – bronze) and the women's 50m freestyle (Emma – gold, Meg Harris – silver and Shayna Jack – bronze).

The swimming continues from 7:30pm AEST tonight live and free on 7plus, where replays are also available.

Rugby 7s

The Aussie women’s Sevens sit atop of the Commonwealth as champions, marking the first time an Australia men’s or women’s rugby 7s team has won gold at the Commonwealth Games.

Their 22-12 defeat of Fiji in the gold medal match was reminiscent of the performances which underpinned their highly successful season in the 2022 World Rugby Sevens Series, who also won gold at Rio 2016.

A fast start from the Aussies, including two tries from Faith Nathan, saw them take a 17-0 lead into the half-time break on Fiji.

It was a much different tale from Australia’s semi-final against New Zealand, where a tight and tense finish saw the Aussies prevail 17-12. After trailing 12-5 at half-time, Maddison Levi scored two of her three tries in the second half. Some clutch team defence in the dying moments held our Trans-Tasman rivals out.

On the men’s side there was heartbreak in the semi-finals against South Africa (12-24), who went on to win the competition, and New Zealand (12-26) in the bronze medal match saw Australia finish fourth.

Replays are available on 7plus.

Cycling - Track

At the track on Sunday night in Birmingham it was a gold rush for Australia, with four gold medals and a bronze secured on the second day of track cycling at the Comm Games.

Kristina Clonan won the women’s 500m time trial in a Commonwealth Games record time of 33.234, a record which had stood since fellow Queenslander Anna Meares set it (33.435) at Glasgow 2014. She edged out Tokyo 2020 women’s sprint Olympic champion Kelsey Mitchell by 0.060 of a second.

Georgia Baker is now the Commonwealth Champion in the women’s 25km points race, having won five of the 10 sprints to blitz the field in the 100-lap event.

Matthew Richardson finished the wonderful night for Australia by winning the men’s sprint final, defeating Trinidad and Tobago's Nicholas Paul.

Read more here.

Gymnastics

Georgia Godwin has gone one better than her silver at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, bringing home gold for Australia in the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around final.

Consistency across all four apparatus was key for the 24-year-old to score 53.500, ahead of Ondine Achampong (ENG) 53.000 and Emma Spence (CAN) 52.350.

A month ago Georgia had expressed doubts on competing in Birmingham due to an ankle injury. She now also holds a silver medal from the women’s team final – competing alongside Emily Whitehead, Romi Brown, Breanna Scott and Kate McDonald.

Replays are available on 7plus.

Athletics

London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympian Jess Stenson (nee Trengrove) took out the gold in the women’s marathon in Birmingham.

 

 

 

 

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The triumph was all the more special as her two-year-old Billy and husband Dylan were there at the finish line.

Matthew Hauser won Australia’s first medal of the Games with bronze in the men’s sprint triathlon. Also in the triathlon Jake Birtwhistle, Natalie Van Coevorden, Sophie Linn and Matthew were awarded bronze in the mixed team relay.

Paddle - Canoe & Kayak

Jess Fox has successfully defended her extreme slalom world champion status at the 2022 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Augsburg, Germany.

She is the first woman to become a back-to-back extreme slalom world champion. The event will make its debut at Paris 2024.

“It’s been an amazing weekend here in Augsburg and I can’t quite believe I managed to pull that off in extreme and to back up the world title,” Jess said.

The result carries extra significance for the Fox family, as her father Richard Fox also won at the world championships in Augsburg in 1985.

“I’m so pleased with this and so grateful to become world champion on the same course as my dad in 1985. I finally got it which is very cool and I can’t thank everyone enough for the support.”

In the women's K1 and C1 Jess claimed silver medals.

“For the kayak and the canoe, it was always going to be really tough to beat the Germans on their home course and I wanted to give it the best shot I could. I’m really pleased with the way I raced and I enjoyed every second out here on the water.”

Tennis

Alex de Minaur has won the sixth ATP title of his career, taking out the singles at the Atlanta Open on the weekend.

Back where he won the trophy in 2019, Alex only needed straight sets to overcome Jenson Brooksby (USA) 6-3 6-3 in a tight, 91-minute match.

Over in the doubles, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasis Kokkinakis also became Atlanta Open champions against fellow Aussies Jason Kubler and John Peers 7-6 7-5 in the final.

The results are a welcome boost for the players as they prepare for the US Open, which gets underway at the end of August.

Each will receive a A$7,000 (US$5,000) Service to Society Grant after making an application through the Australian Olympians Association (AOA).

Rachael Lynch (Hockey - Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020) will deliver coaching clinics and face-to-face mentoring for young women across Australia, with a particular focus on rural areas.

Selina Scoble (Volleyball - Sydney 2000) has developed message bracelets that promote motivation, inspiration and happiness – each handmade bracelet containing a mantra to assist personal mindsets.

AOC President Ian Chesterman says both Olympians deserve praise for their very different approaches to spreading Olympic values and meet different needs.

“These grants are designed to encourage Olympians to address social cohesion, environment and sustainability, sport promotion and important issues such as obesity prevention. Rachael and Selina are using their skills and experiences in very different ways and the value of their projects has been identified by the WOA.

“Olympians provide such important role models for young Australians as they look beyond the playing field to make a difference in Australian communities. I am sure both Rachael and Selina will inspire and succeed with their respective projects and congratulate them both for their initiative and energy,” Mr Chesterman said.

Rachael Lynch, who is also a member of the AOC Athletes’ Commission, says she’s grateful her project was selected.

“I will be visiting the rural and remote towns of Australia running hockey clinics to encourage increased participation in the sport and ensure that Australia can continue its proud history with hockey across all levels. COVID has provided many challenges for sport in Australia so as an Olympian I want to show young athletes, particularly young females, that there is a world of opportunities out there for them, through sport,” Rachael said.

Selina Scoble says the MESSAGE bracelet has been a dream for more than five years.

“It’s the perfect time to launch these bracelets as Australians continue to feel the impacts from COVID, the floods, housing challenges, and the cost of living,” Selina said.

“It means I can help make a difference in people’s lives by giving them a unique piece of jewellery they can wear on their wrist each day as a reminder and focus. I can’t wait to launch in July and make a difference not only in my community and Australia, but around the world. Thank you WOA for believing in my project and giving me that extra boost to make a difference.”

The pair now has 12 months to deliver their respective projects.

An expected team size of 450 Australian athletes across 34 sports will take their place among 10,500 athletes from around the world, 100 years since Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924.

Importantly, the Paris Olympics will achieve full gender equality in athlete numbers, as 5,250 female and 5,250 male Olympians compete across 329 medal events, including 20 mixed gender events.

Breaking will make its Olympic debut, with Surfing, Sport Climbing and Skateboarding all returning to the Olympic arena after debuting at Tokyo 2020.

The Opening Ceremony will also break new ground, with Olympians set to travel down the River Seine on boats with an expected crowd of 600,000 lining the river banks to cheer the athletes as part of the Opening festivities.

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll was excited to mark today’s milestone.

“One year since the enormous success of Australia’s Tokyo Olympic Team and just two years until Paris is an exciting time for the Olympic movement,” Mr Carroll said.

“Our member sports and athletes are busy preparing and competing around the world. It’s fantastic to see the recent results from World Championships, World Cups and other international events and we know Australians will be avidly watching and cheering on the Australian Commonwealth Games Team in Birmingham in the coming weeks.

“The Paris organisers are doing a fantastic job, with some of the venues to be at iconic locations in Paris.

"The Games are championing sustainability and the people of Paris will put on a celebration to share with the rest of the world. I know there are a lot of Australian athletes’ families, friends and supporters who will be in Paris wearing green and gold cheering on our Team in two years’ time.

“The success of the team in Tokyo set a high bar, so we are working hard with each of our sports to maximise their athletes’ performance opportunities in Paris. The shortened gap of three years has brought new challenges in preparation and qualification for the athletes so we are working closely with our sports to ensure they are ready to go in July 2024 – bring it on.”

Triple Olympian and Tokyo 2020 Canoe Slalom C1 gold medallist Jess Fox said a French Games holds a special meaning for her, with her mother and coach Myriam Fox an Olympic bronze medallist for France in Atlanta 1996.

“I was born in Marseille and have always had a strong connection to France, most of my family on my mum’s side lives there,” Jess said.

“The prospect of competing in Paris in front of family and friends who wouldn’t normally see me compete would be so special.

“I’m excited to see the city come to life and to see sport all across the city and France, in front of some incredible landmarks – it will be an amazing show.

“It’s very special and super important to reach gender balance. In our sport, that moment in Tokyo was historic and I’m so proud to have been a part of that. Women first competed in the Olympics in 1900 so it’s about time we hit that 50/50 mark.

“I can’t quite believe it’s been one year since Tokyo, time is flying! The goal is to take each competition as it comes - this week we have the World Championships, followed by the rest of the World Cup series and next year we begin the Olympic qualifying period.

"I’m always motivated and inspired to keep finding ways to improve and challenge myself.”

Rower Lucy Stephan from Nhill in regional Victoria claimed a historic gold medal in the women’s four in Tokyo, on an incredible morning featuring two gold and two bronze medal winning boats from the Australian rowers.

“Wow, we won Olympic gold less than a year ago and already Paris is two years away, that’s so exciting,” Lucy said.

“We know how quickly two years can come up, we’ve got our World Championships this year, then trying to qualify the boats for Paris at next year’s World Championships.

“The Tokyo Games were so special for the rowers and the whole Australian team. Going into Paris as reigning champions will be different – but it’s all about how we can make the boat go faster.

“The races will keep getting faster, so we need to keep building, keep finding more speed no matter what boat we’re in. Looking ahead to Paris I want to make sure I can do everything in the coming years to be able to put in an amazing performance, and having friends and family able to be there to cheer us on is a really encouraging thought.”

Twenty-eight-year-old 800m runner Peter Bol captivated Australians with his Tokyo 2020 experience, as the Sudanese-born Australian achieved our best Olympic result in the event since 1968, finishing fourth in the Olympic final.

“The Olympics is such a big deal, all over the world but in particular I feel it in Australia - the reception the Tokyo Olympics got in Australia last year was amazing,” Peter said.

“It was just an incredible energy, I loved it.

“When I think of Paris 2024 I think of the crowds! It was one thing we missed of course in Tokyo but I know there will be incredible crowds in Paris, that will be the best.

“The Olympics is the ultimate test. Between now and Paris I’ll focus on maintaining my consistency; it's a great challenge in our sport to reach the top levels and a big challenge too to continue competing at those levels.

“I'd like to challenge for and win medals! That is a strong motivation in the last two years.”

Athletics

Two Australians won their respective events at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA as Kelsey-Lee took out the women’s javelin and Eleanor Patterson topped the women’s high jump.

Kelsey-Lee had the added pressure of going into the event as the defending champion, and has been uncontested for the title for three years as the 2020 and 2021 world championships were cancelled.

She rose to the occasion and threw a mammoth 66.91m for the win, a better throw than what she used to secure gold in 2019.

It was earlier in the championships when Eleanor Patterson soared 2.02 metres to claim Australia’s first ever world championship gold in high jump.

AOC President Ian Chesterman congratulated the pair on their historic performances.

“It’s fantastic to see Kelsey-Lee and Eleanor crowned World Champions,” Mr Chesterman said.

“To perform at the highest level on this stage not only shows the calibre of Kelsey-Lee and Eleanor as competitors and athletes, but highlights the incredible perseverance, dedication and grit shown over years to reach this peak.”

It was a bittersweet result for Peter Bol in the men’s 800m, as he finished seventh in the final but delivered Australia’s best ever result in the 800m at a world championships.

Tokyo 2020 debutant Mackenzie Little scored a Personal Best in the women’s javelin and a senior international best 5th place, in the same event as Kelsey-Lee, up from 8th at the Olympics last year.

49-year-old Kelly Ruddick competed in the 35km race walk and is now the oldest female athlete in history to compete for any country at the World Athletics Championships.

The championships come to a close as of Monday afternoon AEST.

Get full event coverage and results here.

Basketball

The Boomers have kept their spot as the top team in Asia with a 75-73 victory over Lebanon in the FIBA Asia Cup final.

Competing with the same ‘gold vibes only’ mentality which the Boomers carried at Tokyo 2020, the team survived a late fourth-quarter rally from Lebanon to hoist the trophy in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Thon Maker recorded 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals on his way to being named player of the match.

Thon Maker playing showtime basketball in a dominant start by Australia vs. Lebanon! 🇦🇺@BasketballAus

Download the #FIBAAsiaCup app!
📌 Google Play: https://t.co/zXnSndB7Ch
📌 App Store: https://t.co/lqGO3Q7o0s pic.twitter.com/W9VNshfohH

— 🏀 FIBA Asia Cup (@FIBAAsiaCup) July 24, 2022

Australia’s path to the final included a 99-85 win over Japan in the quarter-finals and an 85-76 victory against New Zealand.

Skateboard

Tokyo 2020 park skaterboarder Kieran Woolley has won gold for Australia at the X Games in California, USA.

To get on the top of the podium he edged past Gavin Bottger, the youngest competitor in the field who had the support of a home crowd. Fellow Aussie Olympian Keegan Palmer finished fourth.

Kieran is enjoying some excellent results in 2022 after claiming a silver medal at his first X Games appearance in Japan earlier this year. At Tokyo 2020 he finished in fifth place.

In the men's street Shane O'Neill made it a double delight for Australia in winning the gold.

Up and comer Chloe Covell showed amazing skills to claim silver in the women's street.

This fantastic achievement comes after she won bronze at the previous X Games in Japan. Chloe has Paris 2024 firmly on her mind.

Cycling - BMX

Logan Martin has left the X Games with a gold medal around his neck for the third consecutive time.

He won the BMX park event, using his last run to move all the way from seventh to first.

Key to impressing the judges in the final round was Logan's triple tailwhip and a 540 flair.

Only days prior Logan was on the Gold Coast meeting with an IOC delegation about Brisbane 2032.

Beach Volleyball

Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett have placed fourth at the Beach Pro Tour in Agadir, Morocco.

Their quest for a podium finish in the bronze medal match was denied by Marco Krattiger and Florian Breer from Switzerland in a decisive third set 21-19, 14-21, 10-15.

Semi finals bound 💪 #Aussies Chris McHugh and Paul Burnett are through to the semi finals of the #BeachProTourAgadir, after a thrilling quarterfinal victory over Italians Carambula/Rossi 🙌

🏐 8.30pm - Semi Final - McHugh/Burnett 🇦🇺 v Immers/Boermans 🇳🇱@CommGamesAUS pic.twitter.com/8CjTCNHI4h

— Volleyball Australia (@ausvolley) July 23, 2022

The Aussies will next travel to Birmingham, shifting their focus to the Commonwealth Games.

Water Polo

The Sharks have pulled off a thrilling 9-8 upset of a European powerhouse, Montenegro, in the FINA World League Super Final competition.

Co-captain Blake Edwards celebrated his 100th game for Australia with the win.

In their first three matches the Sharks have had to navigate a daunting schedule, having played the 2022 World Champions Spain (L 13-10) and Olympic Champions Serbia (L 14-7).

Their next match is against the USA in the quarter-finals from 2am AEST Tuesday 26 July in Strasbourg, France.

In exactly ten years’ time the Opening Ceremony of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games will be held, however the AOC believes we can start to enjoy the Games’ benefits immediately.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll says there’s no need to wait ten years when so much is happening from today forward.

“Our Time Starts Now. That’s how we look at the incredible opportunities over the next decade,” Mr Carroll said. “We have talked about more than 30 major international sporting events coming to Australia and community infrastructure coming on-line in the decade ahead.

“We have the world’s best athletes coming here and inspiring our young people. This year alone we have the FIBA World Cup for Women (basketball), the UCI World Road Cycling Championships, the UCI Freestyle BMX World Cup, swimming’s “Duel in the Pool” between the USA and Australia and the World Short Course Swimming Championships.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our athletes to compete in front of home crowds, taking on the best in the world and showing the world how Australia can put on a good show.”

For many of Australia’s Olympians, the Green & Gold Runway is helping their sports to grow and inspire new audiences.

Logan Martin (BMX Freestyle): “I am really looking forward seeing how Freestyle BMX evolves over the next 10 years in Australia!

"We have a World Cup event on the Gold Coast this December which has never happened here before, so I’m excited to see more and more events come here and more support and structure to the sport,” he said.

Taliqua Clancy (Beach Volleyball): “We are excited for Australia to potentially host a great deal more international Beach Volleyball events like the ProTour, World Championships and of course the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games... all of which will be held in the lead up to Brisbane 2032.

"There will be more international beach volleyball here at home than ever before - that can only be good for getting more kids playing our sport and for fans to see us in action,” she said.

Ariarne Titmus (Swimming): “I'm excited that Australian athletes have the chance to compete at home in front of our friends and family, and that they can watch us from home too.

"I also think it's great that we can showcase our beautiful country to other athletes and fans from around the world.

“For me, I am very excited for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria. The Gold Coast Games in 2018 was one of my first major meets and is still one of my favourites, I'm excited for that home Games experience again,” she said.

Ally Bull (Kayak): It’s so hard to describe, there’s nothing like it. You have no idea what to expect, it’s one of the biggest events as an athlete you will ever have the chance to compete at. It’s what’s everyone works towards in a 4 year cycle, and I think that’s pretty cool.

“It will be pretty epic to have everyone that is in your support network to be able to be so close to you in Brisbane. It will be pretty special. I was too young to remember the Sydney Olympics so I’m pumped to be able to experience this.

“It will be like the ultimate festival of sport, the place will be absolutely buzzing with energy,” she said.