IMAGE|| MICHAEL WILLSON
Yesterday 146cm pocket rocket Chris Remkes lived by his mantra ‘go big or go huge’ when he broke a 24-year long Men’s Vault Gold medal drought.
By Maddison Jeffery
Remkes set an average score of 14.79 across his two routines in the individual vault overtaking English pair Courtney Tulloch (14.66) and top-ranked qualifier Dominick Cunningham (14.33).
The sell-out crowd at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre were right behind Remkes with a deafening applause.
“It’s too good to be true. It’s unreal the support we have here in Australia. I’m so proud to have everyone watching and supporting It,” Remkes said.
It is the first men’s vault gold for an Australian since Bret Hudson at the 1994 Games.
Victorian Alexandra Eade made her way to the top of the dais not long after, executing an almost faultless routine to claim a surprise victory in the floor event edging out Canadian Vault champion Shallon Olsen and Latalia Bevan from Wales.
“I love doing floor, so I just wanted to go out there and enjoy it, regardless of the outcome. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (to compete for Australia at a home Commonwealth Games).”
