WAIS celebrates record Commonwealth Games success in Birmingham

The Western Australian Institute of Sport is celebrating a record Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with 46 athletes supported to the Games, 90% of the Western Australian athletes on the Australian Team.

WAIS supported athletes claimed an impressive 41 medals across 11 sports in Birmingham, comprising 19 gold, 13 silver and 9 bronze, to help Australian finish on top of the overall medal table. 33 athletes finished on the podium, with nine medals won by para athletes.

Highlights of the Games include Matthew Richardson’s dual gold in the sprint and team sprint. With the rising star repeating the feat of WA and Australian cycling legend Ryan Bayley who did the same at the 2002 Games in Manchester.

The Western Australian legacy in pole vault continues with Nina Kennedy and Kurtis Marschall both bringing home gold. The pair were supported in Birmingham by WAIS Pole Vault Head Coach Paul Burgess and Biomechanist Aaron Balloch.

In her third Commonwealth Games, and following a remarkable return from injury Maddison Keeney won three medals including two gold in diving, bringing her career tally to six.

Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang, who were part of the West Coast Fever, Super Netball Champions added Commonwealth gold to their names with the Diamonds dominant in netball.

Aran Zalewski led the Kookaburras to a seventh consecutive gold medal in Hockey, alongside Tom Wickham and Jake Harvie. WAIS also had five members of the Hockeyroos silver medal winning team, with Aleisha Power, Karri Somerville, Penny Squibb, Shanea Tonkin and Georgia Wilson wearing the green and gold.

Kristina Krstic claimed Western Australia’s first gold in lawn bowls since 1982, Zac Incerti claimed a three gold medal haul in swimming relays and Paul Burnett tasted gold in beach volleyball.

Nine WAIS para athletes stood on the podium in Birmingham. Including Madison de Rozario who claimed gold in the Marathon and 1500m T53/54, repeating her performances from the Gold Coast and becoming the first Australian para athlete to win four Commonwealth Games gold medals.

Wheelchair Basketball made its Games debut with Jake Kavanagh winning gold and Amber Merritt and Georgia Inglis silver. Alex Saffy claimed silver in the pool, Sarah Edmiston and Rhiannon Clarke took silver and bronze respectively on the track and Luke Zaccaria collected bronze in track cycling.

Holly Barratt, Brianna Throssell and Caitlin Parker all claimed medals for the second games in a row.