UC's Commonwealth Games competitors

Kristyn Comino and Laura Haddock

23 July 2014: Covering sports ranging from javelin to judo and running to rugby, at least 10 University of Canberra students, graduates and staff will represent Australia in the 20th Commonwealth Games from 23 July – 3 August in Glasgow.

Commerce alumnus Duke Didier will compete in judo at the Commonwealth Games. Photo: Andrew Croucher

In the first time the sport has been included in 12 years, commerce graduate Duke Didier will debut in judo, having recently won a National Judo Championship title.

"I have the sole goal of getting a medal. It's great that I'm ranked first in Australia and 40th in the world as it shows if I put my mind to it I can do anything, so hopefully I can get the results I want at the Games," the 25-year-old said.

Psychology alumna Emily Brichacek (front) will represent Australia as a middle distance runner. Photo: Inside Athletics

Middle-distance runner Emily Brichacek, 23, is a member of the University's John Landy Talent Squad run by professorial fellow Dick Telford, saying "I attribute a lot of my success this year to the training I was able to complete with the squad," having won the 5,000m title at the Australian Athletics Championship earlier this year.

Student Kylie Lindbeck is part of the Australian weightlifting team at the Commonwealth Games. Photo: AWF

Weightlifter and sport coaching and exercise science student Kylie Lindbeck only started competing professionally two years ago and the 29-year-old said she is "extremely grateful and lucky" to be competing at the Games in the women's 75kg division.
 
"When I started a couple of years ago my goal was to make the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but I didn't think it would actually happen so quickly," Lindbeck said, who won a bronze medal at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships this year.

Recently announced University of Canberra athlete in residence and Australia's fastest-ever woman, Melissa Breen, will race in the 100m and 4x100m relay on the back of breaking the 100m national record in February.
 
Her training partner and psychology alumna Lauren Wells is captaining Australia's athletics team, taking on the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay.

Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker congratulated the athletes on their selection in the Australian team.

UC's athlete in residence Melissa Breen will race at the Commonwealth Games. Photo: Michelle McAulay

"We are extremely proud of their achievements and we will be cheering for them on campus," Professor Parker said.

"The University of Canberra aspires to be the leading university for sports education and research and supporting our elite athletes is an important part of that."

As part of the Elite Athlete Friendly University network, the University supports student athletes by helping them manage their study alongside their training commitments and currently has over 70 student elite athletes, one of the highest numbers in Australia.

University of Canberra athletes are no strangers to international level competition, including winning a total of 14 medals at the London Paralympic Games and Olympic Games.
 
University of Canberra Commonwealth Games athletes

Melissa Breen – sprinter – athlete in residence
Emily Brichacek – middle-distance runner – Bachelor of Science in Psychology alumna
Edwina Bone – hockey – Bachelor of Sports Management alumna
Tom Cusack – rugby sevens – Bachelor of Sport Coaching and Exercise Science student
Duke Didier – judo – Bachelor of Commerce alumnus
Gracie Elvin – cyclist – Bachelor of Science student
Kylie Lindbeck – weightlifter – Bachelor of Sport Coaching and Exercise Science student
Richard Nicholson – para-athletics – Bachelor of Sports Administration
Kelsey-Lee Roberts – javelin – Bachelor of Sport Coaching and Exercise science student
Lauren Wells – hurdler – Bachelor of Science in Psychology alumna

Do you know other University of Canberra athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games? Please email monitor@canberra.edu.au

The University of Canberra community will be cheering for our Commonwealth Games athletes. Photo: Katherine Griffiths

Help cheer on our UC athletes!

Let us know when you're cheering on our University of Canberra competitors on social media by using the hashtag #uccommgames mentioning us on Instagram and Twitter @unicanberra or tagging us on Facebook.
 
You can also see what's happening on our Storify page.