Birmingham Bonanza

BIRMINGHAM%2C+ENGLAND+-+MARCH+09%3A+Athletics+athlete+Sarah+McDonald+of+Team+England%2C+David+Grevemberg%2C+Chief+Executive+of+the+Commonwealth+Games+Federation%2C+Matthieu+Baumgartner%2C+Vice+President+Marketing+Longines%2C+Dame+Louise+Martin%2C+President+of+the+Commonwealth+Games+Federation+and+Athletics+para-athlete+Nathan+Maguire+of+Team+England+pose+for+a+photo+during+the+launch+of+the+Birmingham+2022+Commonwealth+Games+official+Countdown+Clock+on+March+09%2C+2020+in+Birmingham%2C+England.+Sponsored+by+Longines%2C+the+Countdown+Clock+will+take+prime+position+in+Centenary+Square+with+Birmingham+2022+starting+the+multi-games+partnership+between+the+Commonwealth+Games+Federation+and+Longines.+%28Photo+by+Miles+Willis%2FGetty+Images+for+Birmingham+2022%29

Getty Images for Birmingham 2022

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MARCH 09: Athletics athlete Sarah McDonald of Team England, David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Matthieu Baumgartner, Vice President Marketing Longines, Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Athletics para-athlete Nathan Maguire of Team England pose for a photo during the launch of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games official Countdown Clock on March 09, 2020 in Birmingham, England. Sponsored by Longines, the Countdown Clock will take prime position in Centenary Square with Birmingham 2022 starting the multi-games partnership between the Commonwealth Games Federation and Longines. (Photo by Miles Willis/Getty Images for Birmingham 2022)

Anson L (Year 10), Chief Contributor

“Take your marks…GO!”

The Commonwealth Games is certainly an event you want to watch, displaying more than 6,000 of the world’s best athletes in 35 sports, all held in Birmingham, England. There was certainly something for everyone to watch! 

Being in England this year meant that majority of the Commgames was in the dark hours of night for us back home in Australia. Yes, this was devastating news for all the three swimming fans out there…But thanks to News Corporations we could wake up to news of our athlete’s success (or heartbreak) while they went to sleep.  

The Australian team has an impressive 427 athletes, the second largest amount over England. In the mix included 3rd time Comm Games Athlete Emma Mckeon, hoping to receive the most Gold Medals ever won by an athlete… Will she make it? 

The Commonwealth Games started off with the opening Ceremony, which was held at the Alexander Stadium on 28 July. This would be the first-ever major international, multi-sport event, with both para and non-para events being held simultaneously, as well as the first Commgames to host more women’s gold medals than men’s! 

 At the commencement of the Games, Australia quickly began raking in medals for the green and gold!  Two days into the games came the Women’s 4×200 Freestyle Relay Final. This was going to be a must-watch event! With Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan both in the team, and world record winning swim finished with more than 12 seconds in front of 2nd Place Canada; this was only the beginning of Australian success. In fact, Titmus would go on to win the 200m,400m and 800m swims. How on earth do people swim that far?!  

Imagine you right now, rather than reading this We Are article, were competing at the Commgames. This was the reality for 14-year-old Charli Petrov. She would win the women’s synchronised 10m platform alongside Melissa Wu who when she won her first Commonwealth Games medal in 2006, Charli was not even born yet. Not only was Charli the youngest Australian athlete, but she also became a medallist. Does she have to catch up on her assessments when she comes back? 

The classic Saturday sport, Netball, was also present at the Games. The Australian Netball team, the Diamonds, made it into the finals against Jamacia. If Australia were to win, they would secure the 1000th overall Gold Medal for Australia. A third-quarter goal blitz from the diamonds secured the win and the 1000th Gold Commonwealth Games Medal for Australia, the first country to ever be able to do so. I guess all the Saturday netball games were worth it in the end.  

Overall, the 2022 Commonwealth Games was a major success for Australia. With Emma Mckeon winning 5 Gold Medals becoming the most decorated Commonwealth athlete ever. Australia came on top of the medal tally with 178 Medals in the bag.