The impact of the different format for representation is that at the Commonwealth Games there can be more opportunities to compete and gain the experience of a multi-sport event, when compared with the Olympic Games, for those representing constituent nations or dependencies. This, in part, has given rise to some family connections being very visible in Glasgow. Several families have been successful, either with two athletes reaching the podium or with athletes having coaches as family members.
On day 1, Acelya Toprak (ENG) won the -57 kg gold. On day two Acelya’s boyfriend Joshua Green won bronze for Northern Ireland and did so with his father, Paul Green, in the coaches’ chair. After his medal ceremony Joshua said, “Happy days! It was important for me to get it over the line and win that medal. It’s a special moment to share it with my dad. He’s been mad to have in the chair but in a good way. My girlfriend was brilliant on day 1, had to dig really deep to win it, so I’m buzzing for her too.”
Stood close to Acelya on the -57 kg podium was Lele Nairne who won a bronze medal in the category. On day 2 her younger brother Ethan won gold at -73 kg. Both of them represented England.
Ethan reflected, “It was important for me to be here because it’s the one time we get to fight at home with big crowds. The Commonwealth Games definitely inspired me as I was growing up. I wanted to win it one day and now I have. I watched my sister reach the podium yesterday after she missed out four years ago, it was great to see each other do it.
At -70 kg Rachel Hawkes won a bronze medal for Northern Ireland. Her big sister, Sarah, was her coach for the event, “It’s great working with her! Being sisters makes the coach-player relationship that bit tighter because she has known me my whole life. You can’t really get a closer team than that.”
Representing the home team, Scotland, Scott Cusack won bronze at -90 kg, also on day 2, under massive applause from a spirited crowd in the SEC Arena.
His dad Billy Cusack, 7th dan, was himself a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and his mum Loretta Doyle, 9th dan, won gold at the 1990 edition in Auckland, New Zealand. In Glasgow, Loretta is the judo manager for this Games, still involved, still working hard within the judo family in various roles. This time though, perhaps the most intense role has been that of ‘mum.’
