Commonwealth Games

Don't be fooled by the big smile - weightlifter David Liti gets nervous when he walks out to the stage and doesn't mind admitting he's feeling pressure ...

"We all know in New Zealand that the number one thing you want to be as a kid is a rugby player. Liti and Kuworge both competed in their first Olympics last year in the +109kg event, finishing fifth and sixth respectively. I will definitely die trying for this gold but I do feel the pressure is there. "Some athletes don't like it when coaches or people talk to them while they're concentrating back stage. "Tina understands just let me be and whatever works for my concentration works and yeah she just puts the numbers up there for me and I do my job and I go out there and lift the weights." "For sure man I like get shit scared you know.

Customers can redeem their free $2 coins at checkout with a receipt. Four additional $1 coins will also be up for grabs in coin collectors' albums exclusively ...

We have a long history of recognising Australia’s rich sporting culture with our customers, and these coins are another great way for them to show their support as the teams go for gold in Birmingham.” The $2 coins are minted with the letters A, U, and S, with six million of them available for customers to collect nationwide. Four additional $1 coins will also be up for grabs in coin collectors’ albums exclusively available in stores for $15.

The legendary New Zealand winger made his mark at the first tournament in Kuala Lumpur - Jonah Lomu at the Commonwealth Games.

The end of Lomu’s time in the famous black jersey would come far sooner than his performances suggested. Lomu made his presence known early with a monster fend to send a Fijian defender to the turf. And sure enough, he dominated as New Zealand won gold in the Malaysian capital. But a quick glance at his statistics suggests Lomu was not in the all-conquering form that saw him notch four tries against England on that famous afternoon in Cape Town. The hat-trick displayed Lomu’s unique set of skills. Still, this was Jonah Lomu. This was the winger who shrugged off grown men like they were children.

The 26-year-old was fourth in the individual sprint at the 2017 World Championships.

“In training I’m not hitting times that are going to put me in the hunt for a medal,” he said. “But it’s been a while and the sport’s come a long way in the time since then. The goal is to freshen up his training, and maybe to find some extra top-end speed.

A record number of 10 First Nations athletes are set to compete in Edinburgh following the finalisation of the full national squad confirmed last week.

Alex Winwood – Boxing Mariah Williams – Hockey Callum Peters – Boxing

South African Tatjana Schoenmaker is ready to return to international competition in the breaststroke events at the Commonwealth Games.

I wanted to be in the pool, and then when I actually got back in the pool, that’s when I felt I needed take time off. I was so excited because I was going to take a month off. After opting to bypass the World Championships and focus on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, South African Tatjana Schoenmaker is set to make her return to international competition.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games get under way at the end of July as Birmingham prepares to welcome 72 nations across two weeks of action.

Australia will be looking to pick up where they left off on the Gold Coast in 2018, when they produced a dominant performance on home soil to top the medal table, finishing with 80 gold medals and 198 overall. Birmingham also boasts the largest para sport programme, with eight sports on offer, including wheelchair basketball 3x3, which makes its Commonwealth debut. The 2022 edition of the Games sees Birmingham take centre stage as the city prepares to host the event for the very first time.

Take a look at who will vie for gold in the men's 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Liendo earned the bronze in this event in Budapest, nailing a lifetime best of 47.71 in the final to make his mark. Scott owns a lifetime best of 1:44.26 from winning silver in Tokyo and could possibly make it a 1-2 English punch at the Commonwealth Games. At the 2018 edition of the Commonwealth Games, Chalmers wound up placing 2nd, tied with South Africa’s Chad Le Clos in the 100m free. Plus, we suspect that Canada was ‘all in’ for the World Championships, holding on for this meet, versus England, which we think had the reverse focus. Potentially standing in his way could be the aforementioned comeback British ace Burras, the one-time University of South Carolina student-athlete who picked his career back up just last year. As such, the world awaits what the South Australian will throw down in Birmingham with more training under his belt. Even before Worlds, Proud was eyeing his Commonwealth Games legacy, determined to threepeat in the 50m free. But reigning Olympic champion Tom Dean is the man to beat with the Englishman owning the top time of the field with a lifetime best of 1:44.22 from Tokyo. In Budapest, he nabbed the bronze in 1:44.98 to put the target on his back for Birmingham. Yes, there is big-time talent lurking from down under, but England, Wales, Scotland and Canada will each have a major say in what the podiums look like when the heat builds up in Birmingham. In his stead, we look to Aussies Elijah Winnington and Mack Horton to carry on the country’s freestyle tradition, with the former recently having placed 8th in the 2free in Budapest. After taking the 400m free crown at Worlds, Winnington settled for last place in the 200m free in a time of 1:45.82. that was after having clocked a mark of 1:45.53 personal best at the Aussie Trials. Speaking earlier this summer, Proud said, “Being English, it’s only once every four years you get to race for your country. Burras punched a time of 47.63 in the Worlds semi-final to become the fastest British swimmer ever in the event, sealing his spot on both the World Championships and Commonwealth Games rosters for Great Britain and England, respectively.

Here we pick out five athletes from abroad who are most likely to cause a stir as they look to add to their already-impressive list of sporting achievements.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The Australian track cycling star soared to three gold medals on the Gold Coast but took an enforced break after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer the following year. One of the most recognisable female athletes in her country, The 6ft 4ins Proscovia has played for clubs in both Australia and the UK, and currently has a contract with Super League club Surrey Storm.

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