Gold Coast 2018: Para triathletes named

Having won cycling gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Karen Darke will be hoping to land another major title when she competes for Team Scotland in Para triathlon at next April’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Darke was one of 35 athletes covering many sports named by Team Scotland on St Andrew’s Day and will represent her country with pride when Para triathlon makes its Commonwealth Games debut at Gold Coast 2018.

“Excited to be selected to represent Scotland in Para triathlon at the Commy [Commonwealth] Games! Just have to learn to swim & run faster now,” tweeted Darke after learning of her selection.

At Rio 2016, the 45-year-old topped the podium in the women’s time trial H1-3 and is no stranger to triathlon having won gold at the 2012 ITU World Championships and 2014 ETU European Championships.

European Para triathlon champion Jade Jones is one of four Para triathletes named by Team England for Gold Coast. Jones won 1,500m T54 gold at Glasgow 2014 and will compete in both athletics and Para triathlon in her quest for Commonwealth gold.

Alongside her in Team England’s roster is 2017 Para triathlon World Cup silver medallist Lizzie Tench, Mark Conway and Joe Towsend.

Lizzie Tench said: “Being part of the first Commonwealth Games Para triathlon is going to be really special, and this is my first major games. I’m hugely motivated by the challenge ahead, and excited to be part of Team England.”

Team Wales meanwhile has announced its Gold Coast 2018 selections in the sports of cycling and table tennis.

James Ball, a double gold winner at this year’s UCI Para Track Cycling World Championships in Los Angeles, USA, will line-up in the men’s blind and visually impaired cycling event.

Ranked 16th in the world as of 1 November in class 9, Joshua Stacey has been selected for the TT6-10 event in Para table tennis competition. He made his debut for Team GB at the Belgian Para Open in October, winning an individual bronze and team gold and securing his qualification for Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will take place from 4-15 April. The event will set a new Commonwealth Games record by hosting 38 medal events across seven sports.