Maddie Coates

An energic youngster Maddie Coates followed her mother into athletes. She burst on the national scene as a 15-year-old when she won the 2013 national under-17 200m title in 24.58. Twelve months later she dipped under 24 seconds for the first occasion and claimed the 2014 national under-20 200m crown. In July 2014, while only 16, she would debut in the green and gold at the IAAF World Junior (U20) championships where she progressed to the semi-final running a PB 23.91. Over the next few years she continued to trim her 200m PB and was down to 11.91 in the 100m. In 2016 she was once more selected for the IAAF World Juniors and again made the 200m semi-final. She was also a member of the 4x100m relay which made the final. 

In her first year as a senior she made inroads in the 100m with her PB down to 11.62. But the summer of 2017/18 was a landmark for Coates as she lowered her 100m best to 11.59, and over the 200m broke her PB on four occasions, highlighted by 23.06 to place second in the 2018 national championship on the Gold Coast and secure automatic selection for the Commonwealth Games. Her 200m best moved her to number 19 in Australian history. 

The most influential people in her career are her coach, Scott Rowsell, and training partner Nathan Riali, who was second in the 2017 Stawell Gift. “Both been by my side for the last five years to push me to be the best I can be.” Her hobbies include surfing and basketball and she admires Morgan Mitchell and Usain Bolt.