Rhydian Cowley (athletics) will head to his second Commonwealth Games at Birmingham to compete in the men’s 10000m walk. After being encouraged to join Little Athletics aged eight by his father, Cowley quickly progressed to senior race walking ranks. Finishing 33rd in his debut Olympics in Rio 2016 (1.23:30) and 11th at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (1:26.12), Cowley searched for another gear and found it working under former racewalker Brett Vallance. Training with Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jemima Montag and soon-to-be Olympians Declan Tingay and Kyle Swan, Cowley clocked more than 100km per week in training, leading to a breakthrough PB in 2019 of 1:20.19. The seventh fastest time in Australian history, Cowley qualified for his second Olympic Games in Tokyo where he finished 8th in the 50km in a time of 3:52.01. Having completed a double degree in Arts (History) and Commerce (Economics) at Deakin University, Cowley works as an Administration Officer at Bush Heritage Australia. He is also an ambassador for EcoAthletes, a group ‘equipping climate-curious athletes to become climate leaders’. He enjoys making jam in his spare time.