The Commonwealth Games is fast approaching and we are getting excited! Did you know the it’s the only major Games where Paralympic and Olympic athletes are integrated as one team? We will be cheering on all of our home nations and know that it’s going to be a thrilling watch. When it comes to the games, we thought that we would look at some of the athletes to watch. You may not have heard too much about them but will be well worth watching!
Which athletes should I watch?
The top of the list has to be George Miller. He is making his Commonwealth Games debut for Team Scotland as director to visually impaired bowler Melanie Inness. Why George you may ask? Well, not only is he going to be the oldest athlete selected for Team Scotland in this year’s Games, he’s also going to take the all-time world record from Willie Wood, who was 72 years old at his eighth and final games in 2010.
Sticking with bowls, Chris Turnbull is a 74-year-old, visually impaired lawn bowler for Team England. Bowls are hard enough even if you don’t have any impairments, so the skill needed for this is simply incredible.
From the calm to the intense, it’s time for our boxing recommendation. Delicious Orie is our one to watch, at just 25 years young, he has a mean right hook to watch out for. Delicious was born in Russia and handed out of that country due to his race. When he was young, his parents moved to Bilston and were welcomed by the West Midlands. I’m sure boxing from his hometown will help him hit even harder. He is the same height as Anthony Joshua and many have pegged him as the person who will fill his boots or knock his socks off!
Onto more of a niche sport now with squash. Sarah Jane Perry took home a silver medal in the women’s singles squash in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. It was a closely contested match and she is incredibly competitive, we know she will be coming back and aiming for gold this time – watch this space!
We can’t talk about the Commonwealth Games without mentioning gymnastics. We’re amazed every time we see someone doing a reverse somersault on a slim piece of wood or some of our young men doing a crucifix on two rings while suspended four meters up in the air. Alice Kinsella is our one to watch. She came home with a bronze medal from her Olympic debut in Tokyo. She was part of Great Britain’s record-breaking team, having come home with an impressive 65-medal haul. Let’s hope she does even better at the Commonwealth Games.
What about team sports?
Our final recommendation for a tightly contested sport (and hopefully grudge match) is women’s Netball. In the 2018 Commonwealth Games England won the gold medal by 1 point, in the final second against the hot favourites, Australia. Never before has this final been anyone other than Australia and New Zealand, and in an Australian home Games, a once-in-a-lifetime dream was achieved for Team England.
If you didn’t see the final netball game, it was truly incredible and a masterclass in netball skills. It also had the knock-on effect of a quarter of a million extra people taking up netball in the following three months of the games.
We’ve got some extraordinary athletes who are going to give it their all and we are sure you will love watching all the sporting events held in Birmingham. Show your support and love for them – it makes all the difference.