A host of the Sunshine Coast’s top athletes are poised to compete on one of sport’s biggest stages.
Our swimmers, netballers, cyclists and basketballers are ready to perform at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The 12-day event is set to start with the opening ceremony on July 29.
More than 20 Sunshine Coast athletes and coaches are in the 435-strong Australian team.
Co-ordinator of the High-Performance Student Program at the University of the Sunshine, Tania Stevenson, said everyone was looking forward to cheering on the region’s athletes at Birmingham.
Ms Stevenson said Sunshine Coast sport was “buzzing” at the moment.
Our stars set to shine
Sunshine Coast athletes donning green and gold in Birmingham, include:
- Alexandria Perkins (swimming, women’s 50m, 100m butterfly).
- Brianna Throssell (swimming, women’s 100m, 200m butterfly).
- Josh Yong (swimming, men’s 100m breaststroke).
- Kaylee McKeown (swimming, women’s 50m, 100m, 200m backstroke, 200m, 400m individual medley).
- Lani Pallister (swimming, women’s 400m, 800m freestyle).
- Taylor McKeown (swimming, women’s 200m breaststroke).
- Blake Cochrane (para-swimming, men’s 100m freestyle SB8).
- Braedan Jason (para-swimming, men’s 50m freestyle S12).
- Jacob Templeton (para-swimming, men’s 50m freestyle S13).
- Ruby Storm (para-swimming, women’s 200m freestyle S14).
- Jenna Jones (para-swimming, women’s 50m freestyle S12).
- Keira Stephens (para-swimming, women’s 200m individual medley SM10).
- Kirralee Hayes (para-swimming, women’s 50m freestyle S13).
- Liam Schluter (para-swimming, men’s 200m freestyle S14).
- Emily Beecroft (para-swimming, women’s 100m freestyle S9).
- Katja Dedekind (para-swimming, women’s 50m freestyle S13).
- Ben Hance (para-swimming, men’s 200m freestyle S14).
- Cara Koenen (netball).
- Stephanie Wood (netball).
- Maeve Plouff (cycling, women’s track endurance).
- Chloe Moran (cycling, women’s track endurance).
- Sophie Edwards (cycling, women’s track endurance).
- Kristina Clonan (cycling, women’s track sprint).
- Hannah Dodd (wheelchair basketball, women’s 3×3).
- Mick Palfrey (para-swimming coach).
- Nathan Doyle (para-swimming coach).
- Brendan Burkett (para-swimming head coach).
NB: The above athletes either live on the Sunshine Coast, train here or come from the Sunshine Coast. If we’ve missed anyone, please let us know via sport@sunshinecoastnews.com.au and we’ll add them to the story.
How to watch
You can follow the Commonwealth Games action on Channel 7 and 7 Plus and on the SEN radio network and via Birmingham 2022, from July 29 to August 9.
Ms Stevenson said there would be an ultra-strong contingent of Coast swimmers, particularly in the para events.
“I love watching Ben Hance swim,” Ms Stevenson said of the 22-year-old, who will compete in the men’s 200m freestyle S14.
“He’s a real performer. He gets in there and really embraces the moment, which is why he seems to do so well.
Hance has a world record and claimed a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing Ruby Storm (women’s 200m Freestyle S14) in her first Commonwealth Games and Blake Cochrane (men’s 100m freestyle SB8) in his fourth Commonwealth Games,” Ms Stevenson said.
“I’m also really excited for Alexandra Perkins who, after five years of hard work with the USC Spartans (swim squad) has made her first team as an Australian Dolphin.
“Then, there’s Hannah Dodd in the wheelchair basketball.
“Also, Steph Wood. She was the number one Lightning pick (in 2017) but not a big name in the national league at the time and she is now the vice-captain of the Australian Diamonds.”
Ms Stevenson said the USC sports centre has been a hive of activity in the build-up to the Games.
“The pool has been thrashing every morning,” she said.
USC High Performance Sport Director Brendan Burkett, who is also the head coach of Australia’s Paralympic swim team, said Birmingham was a pivotal stage for all participants.
“The Commonwealth Games is an event that athletes circle on their calendar years in advance and the effort and sacrifices to be selected are immense,” he said via a USC news release.
“Every athlete has a story to tell about their journey to this point and it’s important to remember it represents different things to different people.
“For some, it will be their first Commonwealth Games, while for others, it may be their last.
“Some will be looking to build on success in Tokyo, others will be returning from setbacks.”
Sunshine Coast product and star swimmer Kaylee McKeown is expected to be in the hunt for gold.
The 21-year-old, who won three events at the Tokyo Olympics, shifted from the USC Spartans earlier this year to train at the Gold Coast under Michael Bohl.
There will also plenty of cheers for fellow Sunshine Coast product, Lani Pallister, who also now trains at the Griffith University Swim Club. Lani recently captured two medals at the world championships in Hungary.
USC swimmer Braedan Jason was looking forward to competing at his first Commonwealth Games.
The 24-year-old started swimming when he was eight years old as a nipper, at around the same time he was diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy.
Braeden, who is legally blind, trains nine times a week for up to five hours a day, focusing on the black lines in the pool.
“It has become automatic now that when I am in the pool I can sense the black line, the tee at the end of the black line, and know it is either a two-stroke touch or a one and a half stroke turn,” he said.
“That’s what I am looking at when I am racing. I am not looking at anyone else just head down looking at the black line trying to get from point A to point B as fast as I can.”
Due to his early morning starts, Braedan accesses NDIS support to get him to training.
“I have support workers I use in low-light times, like when I am going to training and can’t catch a bus that time of the morning,” he said.
“It allows me to access work, going out with friends and accessing training as well.”
He also gets assistance to live independently with his partner.
Braedan has also started working for ABC radio as a producer this year, after completing a Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Sunshine Coast.
