Antony Perry
9 April 2018: University of Canberra student Jesse Aungles ensured Australia’s gold rush in the pool at the Commonwealth Games continued Sunday, winning gold in the SM8 200-metre medley final.
Aungles edged countryman and friend Blake Cochrane as Australia continued its dominance in the pool. The Dolphins now have 45 medals at the Gold Coast Games: 16 gold, 15 silver and 14 bronze.
The Rio Paralympian entered the Commonwealth Games as the fastest qualifier and lived up to the hype, going one better than his second-place finish at the Glasgow Games in 2014.
“It was absolutely incredible, especially with the crowd behind you and my mate Blake beside me. I’m lost for words,” Aungles said.
Aungles announced himself on the world stage with his silver medal-winning swim in Glasgow in 2014. The following year he made a splash when he broke the world record in the 200-metre backstroke at the Berlin Open.
The 22-year-old represented Australia at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in four events, placing sixth in the 200-metre individual medley seventh in the 100-metre backstroke and butterfly, and eighth in the 400-metere freestyle.
Although he’s no stranger to the international stage, Aungles said competing on home soil carried greater significance.
“It’s always been a dream of mine,” he said. “The gravity of pulling on the green and gold gets me every time and to do it at a home Games is even more special.”
Aungles, who is studying politics and international relations at the University, was born with his right leg 10 per cent shorter than his left. His left leg was missing the fibula bone and ankle.
He had his left foot amputated and his hip reconstructed at the age of one.
