Sport: The Commonwealth Games is underway - and a host of Australian stars are looking to make a flying start!
After WA’s own flagbearer Nina Kennedy led the Aussies into The Hydro in Glasgow for the opening ceremony, the real action is set to get going from later afternoon Perth time.
We’ll be blogging across the entire evening, night and early morning (WA time) to keep you across the latest!
One shy of the record
Fellow Aussie para weightlifter Jade Pritchard has cleared a 69kg lift, just one shy of Oceania’s record in her category.
She had passed 66kg in her first attempt and will now look to etch her name in the history books with attempt three.
And the medal tally begins
The first medals of the 2026 Commonwealth Games have been handed out, with England claiming snaring gold to kickstart their campaign.
Para Powerlifter Mark Swan won the first of 215 gold medals that will be handed out.
Winning with a 153.9kg bench press, while Nigeria’s Roland Ezuruike and Malaysia’s Bonnie Bunyan Gustin take home Silver and Bronze respectively.
How long will it take Australia to open their account?
Price pumping iron
Para Weightlifter Natasha Price has notched her first lift in the bench press, moving 63kg with ease.
Fundamentals over flash
The Gangurru’s have triumphed over Jamaica with a fundamental 21-13 win.
Emma Clarke sunk a long dagger to bury their opposition, who had no answer for the 6’4 centre Lara McSpadden.
Pressure defence from the Aussies gave them plenty of opportunities to take advantage of their shooters who spaced the floor for their big threat inside the arc.
WA’s Amy Atwell shot an equal game-high eight points and fellow Stateswoman Clarke sunk six points with five boards.
The small ball line-up of Atwell, Clarke and Whittle saw the girls jack up a flurry of streaky two point shots, but they found their winning rhythm with the McSpadden pick and roll – who finished with five points and four rebounds.
Now it’s time for the men to notch their second win when they face Nigeria.
Inside the arc
Lara McSpadden is back into the game after Australia ran with a small ball line-up, shooting predominately from beyond the arc while she was sidelined.
The inclusion of the tall has the girls playing inside the arc.
An Emma Clarke block helped feed the ball back into McSpadden inside, as the girls lead 15-9 with 3.25min to play.
Defence wins games
The Gangurrus 3 and D game plan is proving formidable, but poor shooting is keeping Jamaica in the game.
Aussies are pressing hard on the Jamaica squad and it clearly has the opposition flustered.
WA shooter Amy Atwell showed her hustle after grabbing the offensive board on her own miss.
Australia leads 10-7 with a little over five minutes left to play.
Early 3x3 action
Jamaica took the early lead on Australia but a pick and roll from 6’4 centre Lara McSpadden tied things up.
WA’s Emma Clarke showed off her shooting prowess, sinking a bucket from beyond the arc to move ahead.
Referee’s are deliberating on a call so there has been a long pause in play.
Gangurrus game two
The second game for the women’s 3x3 is underway, with Australia looking to follow up against Jamaica after their thumping against Kenya.
‘No excuses’: Bos not satisfied with Oceania record
After breaking the Oceania record, Lightweight Para Powerlifter Daniel Bos attempted to go one better - aiming for an ambitious 150kgs.
A stellar effort, Bos pumped the iron as far as he possibly could but couldn’t get the bar over the line.
A failed challenged saw him finish with 123.3 points after lifting more than three times his weight.
Impressive, but not good enough for Bos.
“No excuses, I wasn’t strong enough to lift 154 . . . it’s back to the drawing board now,” he told Channel 7.
“Time to figure out what I did right and what I did wrong.”
Daniel is the boss
Para Powerlifter Daniel Bos has set a new Oceania record with a whopping 147kg bench press.
The Aussie hit the events lead with a 142kg press, and followed up with a record setting lift.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails