Downie Selected for Commonwealth Games

Published On: 7 April 2014

Kat Downie

Western Australian Institute of Sport athlete Katherine Downie has earned selection onto the Australian team for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games after winning the women’s 200m IM (multiclass) at the Australian Swimming Championships in Brisbane on the weekend.

Downie will join an Australian cast of 59 swimmers for the Commonwealth Games, and will also represent Australia at the 2014 Para Pan Pacs in California in what is shaping as a busy year ahead for the 18 year-old.

The 2012 dual Paralympic gold medallist secured her berth on the Australian teams after winning the women’s 200m Individual Medley (multiclass) ahead of fellow West Australian and former WAIS scholarship holder Madeleine Scott, who having relocated to Canberra will also represent Australia at both events.

Downie touched home first to win in a time of 2:35.66, with Scott winning silver in 2:42.02. The WA pair will be joined in the Australian swimming team for Glasgow by fellow Western Australians Eamon Sullivan and Jessica Pengelly.

Following her Commonwealth Games selection, Downie added a further medal to her collection, picking up silver in the final of the women’s 100m backstroke MC, behind race winner Hayley Morris.

WAIS emerging talent Tommy Sucipto produced a fine effort to set a new personal best in the final of the men’s 50m breastroke to win a bronze medal. Gold went to Olympian Christian Sprenger, with silver going to Max Ireland.

WAIS distance swimmer Rhys Mainstone contested the final of the men’s 1500m taking out fifth place, completing the swim in 15:32.23. Victory went to Mack Horton, who won in 14:51.55.

In arguably Australia’s richest event in terms of depth of talent, WAIS athlete Yolane Kukla has finished seventh in the final of the women’s 100m freestyle. Cate Campbell won gold ahead of her sister Bronte, with bronze claimed by Emma McKeon in a race that also featured prominent swimming names such as Brittany Elmslie, Melanie Schlanger and Bronte Barratt.

The 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games runs from July 23 – August 3, with the 2014 Para Pan Pacs to follow from August 6 – 10.