Pearson leading by example at media call
Published Sat 31 Mar 2018
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With the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games athletics program just over one week away, our 109-strong Australian Team were on show today for the media call at the team holding camp in Nudgee, Brisbane around one hour
Team co-captain and reigning 100m
“I’m trying to be there for everyone and lead by example by what I do on the track and also how I conduct myself off the track. That’s what I like to do as a
The Queenslander is one of several Australians who
“There are a lot of great athletes coming through. Kurtis and Nina our pole vaulters and we have Dani Stevens in the discus and Kathryn Mitchell in the javelinâ€.
“And there’s an amazing group of other athletes in the team and I think we are going to pick up more medals than we have had in a long time.â€
Pearson’s co-captain and three-time Paralympic gold medallist Kurt Fearnley (NSW) will be competing on the track (1500m) and the road (marathon). The gruelling 42.195km event will be the first time the wheelchair (T-54) marathon will be held at a Commonwealth Games.
Fearnley is one of 19 para-athletes which is our largest and strongest contingent of para-athletes ever.
At 15 years and 166 days is Sam Walker (Tas) competing in the T38 100m who will become the youngest ever athlete to don the green and gold at a Commonwealth Games. Joining the Tasmanian are two other 15 year-olds who will compete in the newly built Carrara stadium, Rhiannon Clarke (WA) T38 100m and Kailyn Joseph (NSW) T38 long jump.
Four Australians will be defending their Glasgow titles on the Gold Coast with team co-captain Sally Pearson (100H) leading the charge with Angela Ballard (T54 1500m), Dani Stevens (discus) and Michael Shelley (marathon) all hoping for back-to-back victories.
The team includes 64 debutants and a relatively young average age of just under 25 years.
At the other end of the spectrum Lisa Weightman, aged 39 years 89 days, will become the oldest Australian woman to compete in athletics at the Commonwealth Games when she lines up in the marathon on the day of the Games. It will be ten years and two days since she ran her first marathon. She surpasses the late Kerryn McCann who was 38 years and 321 days when won gold in the marathon in Melbourne in 2006.
Gold medallist from Delhi in 2010, Fabrice Lapierre (NSW – long jump) joins Benn Harradine (Qld – discus), Kathryn Mitchell (Vic – javelin), Sally Pearson (Qld – 100m hurdles, 4x 100m relay) and Lauren Wells (ACT, 400m hurdles, 4x400m relay and long jump), in a record-equalling fourth Commonwealth Games.
Pearson’s said a home Games was a great opportunity to showcase the sport and the athletes to existing and new fans alike.
“I really want people to understand what our sport is about and this is a great chance to show off us some of our athletes and all the personalities we have and put our sport on the map again.â€
“People are going to be yelling out your name so just embrace it and take all that energy in.â€
The Opening Ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games takes place on Wednesday, April 4, with athletics competition set to begin on Sunday, April 8 with the men’s and women’s 20km race walk.
Follow all the action of the XXI Commonwealth Games
The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, from Wednesday 4 April to Sunday 15 April 2018.
Athletics action kicks off on Sunday 8 April and continues until Sunday 15 April.
- Athletics Australia on Instagram
- Media Guide for 2018 Commonwealth Games (PDF)
- Commonwealth Games Australia
- Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games
Tickets
You can still buy athletics tickets for Gold Coast Commonwealth Games including for finals sessions;
Don’t miss your chance to witness
TV and Digital
The Seven Network will broadcast content on all three of their TV channels - 7, 7TWO and 7Mate.
You can download the 7CommGames app from both the Google Play and Apple store or watch via the website version.
The app and website will have all events on TV and every medal event live, in full and available for free.
Athletics will be hosted by
Bruce McAvaney
Lord Sebastian Coe
Dave Culbert
Steve Hooker
Tamsyn Lewis
With Pat Welsh trackside and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor and Jane Flemming providing additional commentary.
How to listen on radio
ABC Local and Regional Stations – Updates throughout the day with live continuous
coverage from 7.00 pm
The ABC
Grandstand Digital DAB+ – broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
ABC Online – ABC Grandstand will stream its Games coverage
Karen Tighe will host the broadcast with Quentin Hill covering Athletics along with Australia’s fastest man, Patrick Johnson providing expert commentary.