Ross Lewis's top 5 Commonwealth Games moments
WOMEN'S 4 X 100M FREESTYLE
One race on the first night of Glasgow 2014 cleared away the "toxic culture" that had plagued Australian swimming.
And the mess was wiped in the first leg when Bronte Campbell set the Commonwealth Games record (53.16sec.) for the two laps. The mark was lowered later in the meet but for the moment it marked a spirited recovery.
Emma McKeon, Melanie Schlanger and Cate Campbell completed their end of the deal to give Australia the world mark in the relay - 3.30.98.
The time, the victory and the celebration set the Dolphins on course for another significant medal haul. It also heralded the arrival on the world stage of McKeon, who took home four gold medals.
SALLY PEARSON
A gold medal is always satisfying. Sally Pearson has a mantelpiece stacked with more of the commodity than some South Pacific nations.
However, the biggest buzz for the 100m hurdler was her performance in the heats.
Her first run, in which she posted 12.69sec. to win by 4m, was a statement to herself, her athletics team and to suspended head coach Eric Hollingsworth.
It was the feud with Hollingsworth that had overshadowed the Australian track and field team at Glasgow 2014. But her own fitness was also a worry. A dodgy hamstring had forced her to pull out of the 100m flat.
The Australian athletics captain was so happy with her heat performance, there was an unusual show of emotion as she signed autographs and posed for selfies in the crowd.
There was no doubt who was the most important figure in the camp.
KIM MICKLE
For a decade Kim Mickle had sought international success.
Injuries and South African rival Sunette Viljoen had regularly been villains in the process.
The WA javelin ace went into the Commonwealth Games with a new-found confidence - and it showed with her first throw that only one of the other competitors was able to better in the final.
Mickle's second throw of 65.96m, a Games record, knocked out the rest of the field.
Coupled with her regular top-three finishes in the Diamond League, Mickle is now an international force to be reckoned with.
ANNA MEARES and STEPHANIE MORTON
It was one of the victories that united the whole Australian team. Less than 24 hours after leading her country into Celtic Park at the Glasgow 2014 opening, Meares claimed a fifth Commonwealth Games gold in the 500m time trial.
The victory also enabled the Queenslander to pass her idol Kathy Watt (four gold medals) on the success table.
But while the Queen of the Track remained in control, there was a rival finishing second who would eventually knock Meares from her throne. And that was a good sign for the future of Australian cycling.
Three days later, Morton beat Meares to earn the women's sprint gold in two races. Whether or not Meares continues to another Olympics, our women's pedal team has strong hopes for Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
ROSS MURDOCH
Admittedly this isn't a name that would be familiar to Australians. Even his success at Glasgow 2014 probably wouldn't have put his profile before the blood-shot eyes of locals who had stayed up late, or got up early, to watch the Commonwealth Games.
For Scotland, he became a national hero in a Games record 2min. 07.30sec. - and a symbol of the 12-day event with victory in the men's 200m breaststroke. Murdoch wasn't expected to win but his super second half of the race gave the hosts a golden night in the pool.
The atmosphere he generated in the Tollcross Aquatic Centre was spine-tingling. The Scots cheered with gusto even when Murdoch broke down in tears on the podium. He was so proud of his achievement for his country.
And Glaswegians should be of their efforts in putting on a sensational "friendly Games".
There were difficulties but the willingness of the Scots to help, the sacrifices they made to allow events to happen and the support they gave them with 1.2 million ticket sales might have breathed some much-needed life into the Commonwealth concept.
