Madison de Rozario claims back to back Commonwealth Games gold in the marathon

WAIS graduate Madison de Rozario has gone back to back in the wheelchair marathon with a convincing win for one of the all time greats of the sport.

The results will show de Rozario claimed gold by nearly four minutes in a Games Record time, though it was not all smooth sailing for the Paralympic Champion, with an unexpected equipment problem with her wheelchair requiring a zip-tie to keep her in the race.

“We talk about defending titles but we try so hard in my performance team to keep each race in a bubble and you try so hard to not let previous successes or previous failures colour what you’re about to do and that can be really, really challenging,” she said.

“Sometimes the confidence is too much and you kind of get ahead of yourself and sometimes it’s too much in the way that it’s debilitating pressure instead, and so we try and step away from all of that.

“But it’s definitely a little motivator, when you know what it feels like to be on top of that podium, you obviously want it that little bit more.”

De Rozario is now based out of the New South Wales Institute of Sport alongside coach and former WAIS athlete and Paralympic legend Louise Sauvage.

“We knew going in it was a tough course,” Sauvage said.

“We definitely prepped for it. We did a lot of hill work… the last 7km is the worst.

“It’s that last bit when you’re trying to bring it home that’s definitely the toughest.”

She now turns her attention to the 1500m later in the week, where she is eyeing a second gold.