SEVEN athletes from the City of Logan are looking to bring Commonwealth Games gold back down under.
The Games get started in Birmingham next week, and this year Logan has a plethora of new talent who are donning the green and gold; including 27-year-old athletics debutant Taneille Crase, who will be competing in the Women’s Heptathlon.
“My training leading into the Commonwealth Games has been phenomenal. This is probably the best preparation I’ve had leading into a competition ever,” she said.
The Chambers Flat resident is in safe hands heading into her first Commonwealth Games, coached by Australia’s own heptathlon royalty Glynis Nunn– the first ever Olympic champion in the event.
Olympic decathlon bronze medalist Ash Moloney, who will compete in the decathlon, is also one to watch.
Coming straight out of the Eugine’s World Championship, body management will be crucial for the 22-year-old Heritage Park star.
The young-gun captured Australia’s attention when urged on by teammate and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Cedric Dubler at the Tokyo Olympics.
He continued his medal winning exploits taking bronze in the seven-event heptathlon at the recent world indoor championships in Belgrade, despite nursing his consistent knee injuries through the competition.
Brother sister duo Angela, 19, and Jack Yu,17, are one of three sets of siblings who will be flying the flag for Australia.
The Logan Central teens will compete in the team and individual divisions for badminton, hoping to follow in their parents’ footsteps, who represented China in the sport.
“It will be the first time ever on such a big world stage and to compete with the world’s top players is so exciting,” Jack said.
The other proud debutantes who will be gunning for gold are Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, 21, Kurt Thomson, 40, and Ebony Gorincu, 32.
Lefau-Fakaosilea, originally born in New Zealand, made the move to Australia and instantly burst onto the rugby sevens scene, selected for the Wallaroos as a teenager.
The Loganlea local will be hungry to come out on top after the Australian Pearls were clinched by the New Zealand Black Ferns by a sudden-death matchwinner in extra-time at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Kurt Thomson will make his debut with 3×3 wheelchair basketball-which will mark the first year the sport has been included in the games, highlighting the rise of the fast-paced and thrilling format around the world.
To help enjoy the feast of sport coming up, here’s an overview of our local athletes’ schedule.
LOCAL TALENT:
- Angela Yu: Badminton: Women’s doubles, mixed doubles, mixed team event: Friday July 29, 11pm-2.30am, v Sri Lanka (mixed team); July 30, 6pm-9.30pm v Pakistan (mixed team), 4.30am-7am v India; August 3, Women’s doubles starts 1.30am; August 4, Mixed doubles starts 1.30am.
- Jack Yu: Badminton: Men’s doubles, mixed doubles, mixed team event: Friday July 29, 11pm-2.30am, v Sri Lanka (mixed team); July 30, 6pm-9.30pm v Pakistan (mixed team), 4.30am-7am v India; August 3, Men’s doubles starts 1.30am; August 4, Mixed doubles starts 1.30am.
- Alysia Lefau- Fakaosilea: Women’s rugby 7s: Friday July 29, 6pm-10.30pm, v South Africa; July 30, 2.30am-7am, v Scotland; 6pm-10.30pm v Fiji; July 31, 2.30am semi-finals; August 1, 3am-7am finals.
- Kurt Thomson: Men’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball: July 30, 4.30am-7am, Australia v Canada; August 1, 4.30am-7am v Northern Ireland.
- Ebony Gorincu: Women’s 76kg weightlifting: August 2, 6.30pm-9pm.
- Tanielle Crase: Women’s heptathlon: August 2, session 1 from 7pm, session 2 from 3.30am; August 4, session starts 3.30am.
- Ash Moloney: Men’s decathlon: August 4, session 1 from 7pm, session 2 from 3.30am; August 5, session 1 from 7pm, session 2 from 3.30am.
WHERE TO WATCH:
Daily coverage will be available on Channel 7 from 7 pm AEST every day during the Games until 5.30 am AEST the following morning.
All the Games will be broadcast live on 7Plus. More info: http://7plus.com.au/commonwealth-games
