Media release

Team ACU shines at the Commonwealth Games

ACU’s elite student athletes have notched up some of their best performances to date at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Most have recorded personal best times, and many have won medals. Among the medallists were Demi Hayes and Emma Tonegato whose Rugby 7s team came agonisingly close to winning the final, taking out the silver medal on the final day of competition.

Also stepping up to the podium was swimmer Clyde Lewis who took out the gold in the men’s 400m and bronze in the 200m individual medley in two tight finishes.

Ellie Cole was impressive in the pool in the women’s S9 division earning a silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 100m freestyle.

Artistic gymnast Georgia-Rose Brown’s performance earned her a silver medal in the women’s balance beam and a bronze in the women’s team final.  

Brandon Starc has raised the bar, winning a gold medal in the men’s high jump, with a final jump of 2.32m.

Alumna Rachel Lynch also starred, earning player of the match in Australia’s women’s hockey team after some amazing saves as goal keeper. 

The 20-year-old hammer thrower Alexandra Hulley claimed silver in a strong performance, while Kyle Cranston fought hard in the decathlon to secure fifth place.

The other ACU athletes who represented Australia at the games, turning in strong performances were long jumper Naa Anang, heptathlete Alysha Burnett, and divers Anna Rose Keating and Anabelle Smith.

The students are members of ACU’s Elite Athletes and Performers Program (EAPP), which provides academic and financial support for them while competing in high performance sport.

The EAPP continues to foster a holistic and positive future for elite athletes and performers in both sport and a vocational careers.  More information on the EAPP can be found here.