Delta Goodrem belts out an Aussie classic, a 76-year-old makes Commonwealth Games history and a cycling star is proud to have not thrown up on the podium.
Here are the quick hits from day nine of the Commonwealth Games.
1. Delta makes it a hat-trick with Aussie classic
Delta Goodrem produced a breathtaking performance in the closing ceremony. (Getty Images: Mattia Ozbot)
It was a closing ceremony featuring some serious Australian star power, with Delta Goodrem headlining proceedings.
It was the third time, after Melbourne 2006 and Gold Coast 2018, that Goodrem had performed at a Commonwealth Games, and the Australian icon was in fine form at the Hydro indoor arena in Glasgow.
Goodrem was revealed to the crowd in dramatic fashion, lit by a spotlight and sitting at a grand piano, belting out her classic Born To Try, before rising from her seat and welcoming the athletes into the venue with an inspired medley of her hits.
And the performance reached a real crescendo when she welcomed Scottish pop star Cammy Barnes to the stage for a rendition of the most classic of Aussie classics, John Farnham’s You’re the Voice.
Goosebumps in Glasgow.
2. 76-year-old creates Games history
Louise Hoskins made history on the final day of competition. (Getty Images: Adam Pretty)
Louise Hoskins, 76, made history on the final day of competition in Glasgow, becoming the oldest medal winner in Commonwealth Games history.
She, along with partner Serena Bonnell, won gold in the women’s Para bowls, defeating New Zealand in a classic.
It was Bonnell who provided the winning moment for the Aussies, conjuring a sublime shot late in the second set to secure the win.
The oldest competitor in Glasgow, Hoskins was struggling to wrap her head around the enormity of the achievement.
“It is incredible. I’m still pinching myself,” she said.
“I never thought I’d ever get [a gold medal] at my age. Get out there and have a go, and never give up.”
Asked how she planned to celebrate, Hoskins noted Bonnell still owed her a few drinks.
What will it be then?
“Whatever Serena’s going to give me,” Hoskins laughed.
3. Cycling star proud not to spew on podium
Leigh Hoffman looked far from comfortable on the podium. (Getty Images: Rob Casey/SNS Group)
Australian Leigh Hoffman won four medals in a packed track cycling program, including a gold on the final day of competition.
He was the second-last rider in the men’s 1,000m time trial, so had a truncated warm-down before climbing onto the podium to receive his gold medal.
And he looked far from comfortable on the top step.
“You don’t feel human,” he says.
“You’re just so cooked, my legs are still burning right now, I think it’s been a solid hour. There’s no pain like it for sprint and endurance – 1 kilometre all-out sprint, 58 seconds of pure pain. I’m still feeling it.
“I made sure to eat about four hours out so my stomach was pretty empty. I’m proud I didn’t spew.”
This is the sprint and keirin specialist’s first 1km time trial in six years, but he says he has no plans to keep riding them at world titles, although he may go again in Amdavad in four years’ time.
4. Aussie chef de mission gets ink
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Australia’s chef de mission Petria Thomas loves the Friendly Games — and understandably so.
She was a nine-time Commonwealth gold medallist during her decorated swimming career and has just overseen a Games in which Australia claimed 70 golds, 41 more than the next best nation, England.
On the final day of competition, Thomas was seen out in Glasgow getting herself a permanent testament to the event for which she has so much affection.
She said the Games have a special place in her heart, and now a special place on her body.
“I’ve thought about it for a long time and the Commonwealth Games has been such a big part of my life, as big a part as the Olympics. So I thought why not get the Commonwealth Sport mark as well, and I’ll wear it very proudly,” Thomas said.
“The Commonwealth Games has played such an important part of my life and I wanted to get something to remember that.”
5. Scottish athletes win fashion stakes
Scottish athletes had some fun at the closing ceremony. (AP: Kin Cheung)
Scottish athletes were hard to miss at the closing ceremony.
The host nation’s contingent wore traffic cones on their heads as they took part in the festivities inside The Hydro.
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It’s common practice for Glaswegians to put traffic cones on the heads of statues around the city.
Arguably the most famous example is the Duke of Wellington statue outside the Gallery of Modern Art.
A statue in Boston could not escape the Glaswegian tradition during the FIFA World Cup. (Getty Images: Craig Williamson/SNS Group)
The ritual was celebrated at the recent FIFA World Cup, with Scottish fans decorating statues in Boston in their customary way.
You can never suggest Scots don’t know how to poke fun at themselves.
ABC/AAP
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