Davies’ historic gold headlines epic day at Comm Games for Australia
With her arms outstretched and the most joyous of smiles spread across her face, Australia’s Rose Davies dashed across the finish line to claim an historic gold medal at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday (AEST).
The Newcastle product’s victory in the women’s 10,000 metres delivered Australia its first gold medal of the athletics program – and its first gold medal in the event in Commonwealth Games history.
Rose Davies winning the women’s 10,000m. AP
On a wondrous day at the Glasgow Games for the team in green and gold, Australia won nine gold medals.
The gold rush takes Australia’s gold medal tally to 26, ahead of the second-placed England’s eight, and total medal tally to 59, ahead of England’s 32.
A highlight of the day was the triumph of gymnast Kate McDonald in the women’s uneven bars, four years on from her triumph on the balance beam at the Birmingham Games.
McDonald received a score of 14.33, beating Canada’s Elsbeth Black (13.900) and Wales’ Emily Roper (13.666).
On an incredible day at the pool, Australia’s star-studded Dolphins team won seven gold medals across nine medal events.
Jenna Forrester kicked it off by clinching gold in the women’s 400m individual medley, winning in 4:31.19.
The Dolphins then swept the podium in the women’s 100m freestyle, with Meg Harris securing gold in 52.90, ahead of Mollie O’Callaghan (53.25) and Shayna Jack (53.38).
Another podium sweep followed in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB9, with para-swimmer Beau Matthews taking gold in 1:09.41, ahead of Joshua Willmer (1:11.44) and Timothy Hodge (1:12.74).
Then came another gold medal for Alex Perkins, who conquered the women’s 100m butterfly to snare her third gold of these Games. She won in 56.38 seconds.
Sam Williamson also struck gold again, taking out the men’s 50m breaststroke two days after his victory in the 100m event. The former world champion won in 26.50 seconds.
Kate McDonald celebrates claiming gold in the women’s uneven bars. Getty
And a relay team featuring Lani Pallister, Hannah Casey, Inez Miller and O’Callaghan, who swam in that order, dominated the women’s 4x200m to win in 7:42.53.
But the crowning moment of Australia’s day in Glasgow was the gold medal won on the track by Davies, who charged to victory in 31:39.32.
Australia had won minor medals in the women’s 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games but not gold.
That all changed as Davies delivered an unstoppable final two laps of the 25-lap race at Scotstoun Stadium.
Kenya’s Diana Wanza had made a run for home from a long way out, powering ahead with four-and-a-half laps to go and carving out a lead of about 30m.
But Davies caught the African with two laps to go and killed her off with a ruthless move.
Rose Davies celebrates her historic gold medal. Getty
Rather than sticking with her and biding her time, the 26-year-old shot straight past and quickly opened up a race-winning lead.
By the time she’d taken the bell, she’d opened up a lead of about 40m, and come the end of her glorious run, she was about 50m ahead.
Speaking on Nine’s Today, Davies revealed what was running through her mind over the closing stages of the race.
“Don’t mess it up!” she laughed.
“I was leading with a lap to go and I was like, ‘Oh, I just hope they don’t catch me’.”
She held up her gold medal, grinning from ear to ear.
“It’s amazing. It’s a dream come true. I’m a bit speechless at the moment, but I’m just so happy,” the dual Olympian said.
“It’s been such a big goal. I think as a little girl you always want to win the Commonwealth Games. To achieve that is just, yeah, it’s crazy.”
Davies (31:39.32) led home Wanza (31:50.13) and Rwanda’s Florence Niyonkuru (31:55.47).
Australia’s Lauren Ryan finished fifth in 31:59.41.
