Charlie Hunter (athletics) made his Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham where he contested the opening heat of the men’s 800m. His 2022 season leading up to the Games included a 3:34 1500m in Los Angeles, as well as 800m races at famous meets such as the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, the Portland Track Festival and Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Growing up on the NSW Central Coast, Charlie joined Terrigal Wamberal Little Athletics aged 9. Post high school (he graduated from Central Coast Grammar School in 2014), he won the under-20 national title at 1500m and represented Australia at the IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships in China in 2015. Hunter’s endeavours were rewarded with a scholarship to the University of Oregon in 2018 where he trained with Pete Julian’s Union Athletic Club (formerly the Nike Oregon Project) while undertaking a business administration degree.

In Hunter’s first three races in 2021, he broke the Australian indoor record at 800m and the mile twice, clocking times of 1:45.59 and 3:53.49. He also set a blistering 1:44.35 outdoor 800m in Portland – the second quickest time by an Australian – to claim a maiden Olympic berth, ultimately reaching semi-final (1:46.73) in Tokyo.