Athletes to watch at Commonwealth Games

2) Rohan Browning (athletics)

The ‘flying mullet’ will be back in business for the 100m blue ribbon event on the track, as well as the 4x100m relay. Browning recorded a best time of 10.01 seconds in the warm-up at the Tokyo Olympics but recorded a disappointing 10.22 seconds at the recent World Championships in Athletics.

It’s a hot court at 100m, with Olympic bronze medalist Andre De Grasse as favourite, ahead of reigning Commonwealth Games champion Akani Simbine of South Africa.

Browning is a reasonable chance of reaching the final and is desperate to become the second Australian — after Patrick Johnson — to break the magical 10-second barrier.

3) Alyssa Healy (cricket)

Women’s T20 cricket is being contested for the first time at the Commonwealth Games and Australia has a great chance of winning gold after consistent success over the last few years. Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, and Ash Gardner will wear gold, but the fittest player is arguably Alyssa Healy.

Alyssa Healy celebrated her centenary at the World Cup earlier this year. Credit:Getty

His 170 knockout in the World Cup final against England, albeit in a 50-over game, will have opponents worried about his devastating impact at the top.

Australia’s first game is against India on Friday (8pm AEST).

4) Cody Simpson (swimming)

Junior swimming sensation-turned-pop star Cody Simpson is back in the pool ready to represent Australia for the first time.

This is a wonderful story for the musician who has traded the bright lights of Hollywood for the long black lines of a swimming pool. She will compete in the 50m and 100m butterfly, having cut her time to 51.79 seconds. That time would see Simpson finish fourth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

5) Eleanor Patterson (athletic)

One of Australia’s high jump stars – the other being Nicola Olyslagers (nee McDermott) – Patterson took first place this week at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. Patterson’s first clear of 2.02m equaled Australia’s record.

Eleanor Patterson at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.Credit:Getty

He became the third Australian after Kelsey Lee-Barber and Sally Pearson to win world title gold in the last decade. Don’t rule out the Olyslagers, silver medalists in Tokyo.

6) Kyle Chalmers (swimming)

The champion is back. Chalmers is the defending champion in the 200m freestyle but has ditched it to compete in the 100m freestyle, plus the 50m and 100m butterfly events he added to his program. It just so happens that Cody Simpson is now competing in the butterfly. Chalmers has also been included in three relays.

Kyle Chalmers will return with success. Credit:Getty

7) Jian Fang Lay (table tennis)

A veteran of six Olympic campaigns, Jian Fang Lay will take part in his sixth Commonwealth Games at the age of 49. He was a fan favorite during last year’s Tokyo Olympics and will be eyeing his first Commonwealth Games medal since 2006 when he took silver and bronze in team and doubles, respectively.

Jian Fang Lay during the Tokyo Olympics.Credit:Getty

8) Samu Kerevi (rugby sevens)

The Wallabies star is really enjoying his time as part of Australia’s seven campaigns at the Tokyo Olympics and promised his team-mates that he would be running for the Commonwealth Games. He has just come out of three tough Tests against England but has a fantastic engine for seven, despite his size. He’s a big player for Australia and the good news is that Kerevi is even fitter than last year.

9) Rachael Grinham (pumpkin)

The only other Australian to make it to six Commonwealth Games is squash champion Rachael Grinham, who has a big chance to add to her eight medals. Consider this: Grinham played on the world’s squash circuit last century.

10) Aaron Wilson (grass bowl)

Certainly not a famous name, but you may remember Wilson of the 2018 Commonwealth Games as a grass bowler who won the men’s singles title before tearing his shirt and running around the court to celebrate.

The 30-year-old’s nickname is ‘Disco’ and he is expected to perform just as well this time around in Birmingham. Can bowl.

Aaron Wilson celebrates shirtless after his win at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Credit:Jono Searle

10 BEST ATHLETES TO WATCH

1) Ellie Cole (swimming)

Is there more to be said about Ellie Cole?

He is Australia’s most-awarded Paralympics, with 17 medals, and will hang up his glasses after Birmingham, 16 years after his first international encounter. Cole was diagnosed with cancer when he was two years old and had his right leg amputated.

Ellie Cole will once again represent Australia at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.Credit:Sam Mooy

What he has achieved is truly extraordinary. The word inspiration is thrown around too often but Cole epitomizes it and is a wonderful ambassador for para-sports.

2) Will Martin (swimming)

Martin was the surprise package at last year’s Paralympics. He dominated swimming by winning individual medals in the 100m butterfly and 400m freestyle (D9), plus one more in the relay. However, Martin has been reclassified to S10 for this Game and will be fighting in the 100m butterfly.

Will Martin at the Tokyo Paralympics.Credit:Getty

3) Madi de Rozario (athletics)

Prior to last year, De Rozario’s Paralympic medals won silver, silver, silver, bronze. She then broke through in Tokyo for her first gold in the 800m (W53) before a stunning performance in the marathon that saw her lead cross the line in front of Switzerland’s Manuela Schaer. De Rozario aims to defend his title in the 1500m and marathon (T54) in Birmingham.

4) Evan O’Hanlon (athletics)

The 34-year-old sprinter is competing in his second Commonwealth Games and is seeking to defend his title in the 100m (W38). The five-time Paralympic champion, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has a personal best of 10.79 seconds, which is very sharp.

Evan O’Hanlon took bronze in the T38 final 100m final in Tokyo.Credit:Getty

5) Lina Lei and Qian Yang (table tennis)

Ahead of last year’s Paralympics, the Australian table tennis team had not won a gold medal for 37 years.

Lina Lei and Qian Yang, in separate singles, managed to achieve the feat within an hour of each other. They’re a big gold medal chance.

Qian Yang and Lina Lei won table tennis gold at the Paralympics.Credit:Getty Images

6) Matt Levy (swimming)

Born with cerebral palsy and visual impairment after entering the world 15 weeks prematurely, Levy is one of Australia’s biggest Paralympics, with three gold medals and six more to his name. He is the defending champion in the 50m freestyle (D7).

Paralympic gold medalist and Australian order taker Matt Levy.

7) Isabella Vincent (swimming)

At 15 years old, Vincent was the youngest member of the Australian Paralympic team last year. In Tokyo, she won a silver medal in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay (34 points) and a bronze medal in the women’s 4x100m medley relay (34 points).

8) Brenden Hall (swimming)

A 100m backstroke (S9) champion in 2018, Hall came out for more glory. After losing his right leg to chickenpox in 1999, Hall has forged an impressive career in swimming and is one of the most favored members of the Australian swimming team.

World record holder Brendan Hall.Credit:Getty

9) Ella Sabljak (3×3 basketball)

Sabljak began playing wheelchair basketball in 2008 and is one of Australia’s best players in the sport. Glider missed the Rio Olympics in 2016 but qualified for Tokyo, where they finished ninth.

The 3×3 format, where three players play against another three-player team, will be interesting to watch.

10) Hani Watson (weightlifting)

Watson competed in her first event last year and lifted 120kg, on what was effectively a bench press.

He is a very strong athlete with a heart of gold who is expected to almost win his maiden medal.

FIVE OVERSEAS ATHLETS TO WATCH

1) Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (athletics)

Nicknamed the “pocket-rocket” for her small body – just over five feet tall – Fraser-Pryce is considered one of the greatest female sprinters of all time. He won gold in Beijing (2008) and London (2012) in the 100m final on track, but continues to shock the world. At 35, Fraser-Pryce recently won his fifth world title in the 100m in a hissing time of 10.67 seconds. He will be a hot favorite in Birmingham.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a track legend. Credit:AP

2) Summer McIntosh (swimming)

The future is bright for 15-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh, who will face reigning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus in the 400m freestyle. McIntosh recently won his first world title in the 200m butterfly and was less than four minutes into the 400m. Birmingham may be a bridge too far but in Paris 2024, McIntosh will be asking some serious questions about Titmus in the pool.

3) Andre De Grasse (athletics)

The Canadian won gold in the 200m final in Tokyo and is also third in the 100m. Had a personal best time of 9.89 in the 100m and is expected to light up the track.

Andre De Grasse after winning the bronze medal in the 100m in Tokyo. Credit:Getty

4) Jo Harten (netball)

Five members of England’s 12-player netball squad have played in Australia for various Super Netball teams. Giant captain and shooter Jo Harten made his England debut 15 years ago and will once again be a key figure for his team, who will be looking to win back-to-back golds after beating Australia for gold in 2018. Helen Housby (Swifts), Geva Mentor ( Collingwood), Eboni Usoro-Brown (Firebirds) and Stacey Francis-Bayman (West Coast) will also feature for The Roses.

GWS Giants Captain Jo Harten.Credit:Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images

5) Jerry Tuwai (rugby sevens)

A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Tuwai is Fiji’s royalty when it comes to rugby sevens.

He’s really good to watch, as are his teammates, whose loading and unloading games are out of this world.

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