The Commonwealth Games were concluded in Birmingham on Monday with Australia topping the medal table with 67 gold and a total of 178 medals.
Australia swept India 7-0 to win the men’s hockey on Monday. It meant that they kept up their record of winning every men’s hockey event at the Commonwealth Games.
The bronze medal in men’s hockey was grabbed by England as the hosts beat South Africa 5-3.
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Noah Williams made their effort to win the mixed 10m synchronized platform gold for England.
The 17-year-old Spendolini-Sirieix triumphed in the women’s 10m platform last Thursday while Williams also enjoyed a winning moment as he clinched the men’s synchronized gold together with Matty Lee.
It meant England ended the diving competition with 15 medals, including six gold.
England finished second in the medal standing as they were 10 gold medals fewer than Australia but only two medals shy of the leaders.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be hosted by the State of Victoria in Australia. The Games will run from March 17-29 with four regional hubs in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland to deliver a multi-city model.
Team Kenya captain Julius Yego is elated after coming back strong from injury setbacks spanning over four years at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Yego, who bagged bronze in men’s javelin guided the Kenyan team to secure a sixth spot finish at the Games, scooping six gold, five silver and 10 bronze.
“I captained the team and, unfortunately, I’ve heard people saying we didn’t perform well. We did so well because most of us recorded season and personal bests in our respective fields,” Yego said.
“Every one of us has tried. We thank our fans back home for the undying support,” Yego said.
The former javelin World Champion recorded his season’s best of 85.7m on the final day of the competition on Sunday.
Yego emerged third behind Pakistani Arshad Nadeem who recorded 90.18m as Anderson Peters of Grenada threw 88.64m to bag silver.
“I’m so happy that I won a bronze for my country. My patience paid off. After you sustain the kind of injury I had, it takes quite some time to get back. I’ve had four years of struggle and disappointment as I fought to recover. I’m 80 percent healthy and so I’m getting better.
“I’m so excited I’ve made a good comeback. The field had very strong competition. The level of competition was very high.
“I thank God I finally got bronze after struggling for four years. I’m very sure many people had written me off that I wouldn’t bounce back.”
“I’m ending the year with a bronze in addition to the gold medal I won in Glasgow in 2014.”
Yego said he was driven to bronze by the passionate and adoring fans at the Alexander Stadium arena.
“I love this crowd. Remember, my 90-metres personal best was achieved inside this stadium, so I like competing here. I thank my fans and everyone else who cheered me.
“ I think it has gone so well here in Birmingham. I wanted to be on the podium despite the presence of good throwers who have done so well before the Commonwealth Games. We had a world champion Peters who emerged second.”
Kenya’s medallists at Commonwealth Games
Gold
Wycliffe Kinyamal – 800m men
Mary Moraa – 800m women
Beatrice Chebet – 5,000m women
Ferdinand Omanyala – 100m men
Abraham Kibiwott – 3,000m men (steeplechase)
Jackeline Chepkoech – 3,000m women (steeplechase)
Silver
Timothy Cheruiyot – 1,500m men
Daniel Simiu Ebenyo – 10,000m men
Irene Cheptai – 10,000m women
Margaret Wangari Muriuki – marathon women
Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli – 5,000m men
Bronze
Kibiwott Kandie – 10,000m men
Abel Serem – 3,000m men
Michael Mugo Githae – marathon men
Sheila Chepkirui – 10,000m women
Emily Ngai – race walk women
4x400m – men
Selah Busienei – 5,000m women
Julius Yego – javelin men
Jacob Krop – 5,000m
Hellen Wawira Kariuki – lightweight para weightlifting women
World champion Tobi Amusan and world indoor champion Jereem Richards had a successful Sunday (7) on the final day of athletics action at the Commonwealth Games, as they joined Elaine Thompson-Herah and Jacob Kiplimo as double gold medallists in Birmingham.
England finished second in 42.41 and Jamaica, anchored by double sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, took bronze in 43.08.
The Nigerian sprint hurdler started the day by winning her specialist discipline, the 100m hurdles, in a Games record of 12.30 (-0.2m/s) – the second-fastest wind-legal clocking of her career behind the world record of 12.12 she clocked at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22.
She won by a clear margin from Devynne Charlton of The Bahamas (12.58) and England’s Cindy Sember (12.59), all of whom finished inside the previous Games record.
“I think my first five hurdles were rusty but then I got it together,” said Amusan. “I’m just thankful for the win.”
Later in the morning session, Amusan ran the lead-off leg for Nigeria in the 4x100m. She gave her team a strong start and handed over to 200m silver medallist Favour Ofili, who kept Nigeria level with England’s Imani Lansiquot.
Rosemary Chukwuma than ran a storming third leg to give Nigeria a clear lead, then Grace Nwokocha anchored them to victory in 42.10, taking 0.12 off the African record they had set when finishing fourth at the recent World Championships.
Much to the delight of the home crowd, England took victory in the men’s 4x100m just moments before the women’s race. They won in 38.35 from Trinidad & Tobago (38.70) and Nigeria (38.81).
Later in the day, Commonwealth 200m champion Jereem Richards added another gold medal to his collection, anchoring Trinidad & Tobago to victory in the men’s 4x400m.
The world indoor 400m champion teamed up with Dwight St Hillaire, Asa Guevara and Machel Cedenio to win in 3:01.29 with Botswana finishing second in 3:01.85. Kenya placed third in 3:02.41.
The women’s race was much closer with hosts England crossing the line in first place 0.01 ahead of Canada. But England was later disqualified for a lane infringement, giving Canada gold in 3:25.84 ahead of Jamaica (3:26.93). Scotland took the bronze medal.
Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai rallied to win bronze after finishing third in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase race at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The East African made it to the podium at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, United Kingdom on Friday.
Chemutai soldiered on to finish strong despite falling down and sustaining an injury in the process on day 8 of the games in Britain.
The Ugandan recorded 9:23.24 on the clock to take Uganda’s medal tally to four after Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech and England’s Elizabeth Bird won gold and silver medals respectively.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ferdinand Omanyala is aiming to pave way for many more talented Kenyan sprinters to blossom in the sport.
Omanyala, who became Kenya’s first Commonwealth Games 100 metres champion on Wednesday night in Birmingham was elated after the particular heroics, further promising to inspire the upcoming athletes in his motherland, Kenya.
The 26-year-old former rugby player brought the fully packed Alexander Stadium to a standstill, storming to victory ahead of defending champion Akani Simbine of South Africa with 10.02s on the clock.
“I know it will sink in after some days, but it feels nice to lay my hands on this coveted crown and I am happy about it. My aim is to pave the way for many Kenyan sprinters and I know that I will inspire countless others to embrace the sprints,” the Kenyan record holder said.
“They just needed someone to break the barriers, and I am sure many more talented Kenyans will now come out strongly to prove their mettle to the world.”
He also expressed optimism in his compatriot Samuel Imeti to shine in the men’s 100m event in the coming days after failing to reach the finals in Birmingham.
“Imeti had a good run yesterday. He has potential but then again, it will boil down to training and I am going to hold his hand to the very end. He will be good to go.”
Omanyala went ahead to say that leaving a mark in Birmingham was a goal that he has been working on together with his team.
“We’ve been working on this since the beginning of the year- thanks to my team, the gold has come to fruition. It’s no longer a dream but a reality,” he narrated.
“This is a big motivation towards the 2024 Paris Olympics and next year’s World Championships. I am now going for the 4 X 100n relay gold.”
The Kenyan sensation revealed that his World Athletics Championships Oregon22 tribulations came as blessings in disguise as he came out even stronger heading into the Commonwealth Games.
“About the Worlds, I forgot almost immediately. In life its always just about moving forward and using those setbacks as stepping stones and just moving forward and focusing on the next one.”
“The gold already has a lot of impact as I am the reigning Commonwealth and Africa champion, so this is a very big motivation.”
Former world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson of England successfully defended her title in heptathlon at the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday.
Johnson-Thompson, who has been struggling with injuries in the past three years, triumphed in Birmingham with 6,377 points, claiming her first victory since winning the world title in 2019.
Johnson-Thompson overcame a ruptured achilles tendon to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games, but had to withdraw midway as she suffered a calf injury in the 200m race.
The 29-year-old failed to defend her world title last month, only managing an eighth finish in the tournament in Eugene, the United States.
“It has been hard,” said Johnson-Thompson. “I had moments where I didn’t know if I wanted to carry on. But to come out here and get the gold, I prove to myself that pushing through was worth it.”
Eilish McColgan from Scotland won her first major title in her career as the 31-year-old finished first in the women’s 10,000m race in a new Games record of 30 minutes and 48.60 seconds.
McColgan’s mother won the same title twice in 1986 and 1990.
In the 100m finals, double Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah from Jamaica won the women’s race in 10.95 seconds while Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala took the men’s gold in 10.02 seconds.
In the pool, Duncan Scott of Scotland set a new Games record of one minute 56.88 seconds to clinch the title of the men’s 200m individual medley.
England’s Ben Proud took the victory in the men’s 50m freestyle final in 21.36 seconds.
In weightlifting, Olympic silver medalist Emily Campbell of England triumphed in the women’s +87kg category with a total of 286kg, beating Samoa’s defending champion Feagaiga Stowers to second place.
“I hope people see how beautiful our sport is. Throughout the week you have seen it, doesn’t matter what you look like, what shape you are, what size you are, you can pick up a bar and do it,” said the 28-year-old Campbell.
Kenya’s and African champion Ferdinand Omanyala was upbeat ahead of his 100m finals at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Wednesday.
Omanyala won the first gold medal for Kenya at the event, bouncing back in style from the disappointing World Athletics Championships in Oregon last month.
The eighth-fastest man of all time over the distance clocked 10.02 to win the race relatively comfortably ahead of continental rival and defending champion Akani Simbine of South Africa.
Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon finished a hundredth of a second behind Simbine to take bronze in a hotly contested finish, with Jeremiah Azu of Wales in fifth with 10.19.
After crossing the line, Omanyala said: “I came here with the sole aim of winning the gold and in the final it was a case of controlling the race from the start.
“Once I got a good start I knew I would win the gold. When I crossed the line I felt like jumping for joy.’
Following his marvellous victory, renowned leaders back home led Kenyans in celebration of the achievement.
Former Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Raila Odinga said;
“Africa’s fastest man, a son of our soil, Ferdinand Omanyala, you have made our entire nation proud. Your victory exemplifies the results of focus, courage, consistency, and sacrifice. Congratulations!”
Odinga’s political nemesis William Ruto on his part also reacted to Omanyala’s stellar performance in Birmingham;
“Kenya’s gem and Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala gets gold at the Commonwealth Games, clocking 10.02 seconds. What a man! We are proud of you.”
Kenyan boxer Christine Ongare has conceded defeat at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom, dashing the country’s hopes of a gold medal in the event.
Ongare lost to Canadian Priyanka Dhillon in the minimum weight category after winning bronze at the last Games in Gold Coast, Australia in 2018.
In a heated encounter, Ongare lost on a split decision in the quarter-final of the minimum weight division at the Games.
“It has not been easy in every game according to me. My coaches know me better and every round they tell me what to do. Anyone that comes here comes to win. Reaching the quarterfinals depends on how you are ranked, that brought pressure on me knowing my opponent my was tough,” she said.
Ongare looked promising in the opening stages of the meeting but Dhillon kept her cool and launched attacks in the second and third rounds. She was precise with her hits and protected herself well to earn more points, something that Ongare’s coach Musa Benjamin also pointed out.
“We had a game plan but we lost in the first round where Christine was not able to get out of that line of fire. So every time she scored, the girl was able to cancel and go top with a point or two.”
Four judges ranked the Canadian on maximum points while only one gave Ongare maximum score.
Uganda’s World and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei has withdrawn from the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.
According to a letter dated July 28 2022, the 5,000m and 10,000m sensation will not defend his title in the competitions.
Cheptegei crossed the finish line in 27 minutes, 27.43 seconds to win gold in men’s 10,000m at the just concluded World Championships in Oregon, United States of America.
This came after losing a 10,000m gold medal to Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.
“I write to express my personal inability to feature and defend my titles at the upcoming Commonwealth Games,” Cheptegei wrote.
“The utter decision comes after my stretched feat to defend my titles at the just concluded World Championships in Athletics – Oregon – United States.”
“Since the 10,000m gold achievement at the Worlds, my body has demanded and requires some rest and recovery if I am to embark on future prospects and plans including the World Cross Country Championships early next year and the World Championships in Athletics again later in the summer next year.”
The Ugandan further expressed his disappointment by the fact that he will not be competing in Birmingham and defend his legacy.
“I am really sad to have to withdraw from the Games. I was really looking forward to defending my title; especially at the 5,000m event. I have endured some illness which has set back my training program and wpuld not love to aggravate it.”
He has, however, urged team Uganda to do the nation proud at the Commonwealth Games. He has wished his compatriot Jacob Kiplimo well in the contest.
“I have great belief in my brother, Jacob Kiplimo, and all teammates assembled to represent and do the job required of them for our nation – Uganda.”
Joshua Cheptegei will show up to represent Uganda in the scheduled events later in the year and in the summer.