Aussie moments in Glasgow
FIVE BEST AUSSIE MOMENTS OF THE GAMES
SALLY SHINES
After an injury-interrupted lead-up and the dramas surrounding Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth, it would have been understandable had Sally Pearson struggled in Glasgow. Instead, the defending Olympic 100m hurdles champion was magnificent. She was seamless in qualifying first for the final and didn't miss a beat in downing Tiffany Porter in the decider. A true champion.
RELAYING A MESSAGE
World records were few and far between in Glasgow but the Australian 4x100m women's freestyle swim team weren't mucking around when they hit the pool on the first night of competition at the Games. The team of Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Melanie Schlanger ripped 0.74secs off the world record held by the Dutch in the supersuit era of 2009. Pushed by the Americans they may well go even better at the Gold Coast Pan Pacs later this month.
MEARES MORTAL
Anna Meares became Australia's most successful female track cyclist when she took out the 500 metres individual time trial in Glasgow, topping Cathy Watt with the fifth Games gold medal of her career. But that was only the half of it. Meares had been expected to win the sprint too but was instead beaten by roommate Stephanie Morton. Rather than detract from the story it made it more poignant as the champion embraced and shed a tear with her friend, and perhaps passed on the baton in her sport.
HOCKEY-RUSE
The world No.2 side gave us the impression they were going to do it easy in Glasgow, especially off the back of their final appearance at the world championship and sweeping through their qualifying games and semi-final at the Games. But the two-times Commonwealth champions weren't banking on the English snatching a 1-0 lead in the final and all but holding onto it. With just 15 seconds left on the clock Jodie Kenny equalised before goalkeeper Rachael Lynch pulled off three brilliant saves in a penalty shootout to hand her side the drama-charged win.
PALMER-GEDDON
David Palmer waited 12 years for this moment. Coming out of retirement for one last crack at a Games gold, it all went on the line for the Australian squash great on the last day of competition. The four-time British Open champion and former world No.1 did the job first in the mixed doubles with Rachael Grinham and then backed up for the men's doubles final just 15 minutes later with Cameron Pilley to make it two gold in one day. He then retired.
