Meet the athletes

This month marks the start of the Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022, with a host of Australian sporting stars headed to the UK to represent our nation. As they prepare to don their R.M.Williams kits for the opening ceremony, we caught up with some familiar faces from the Australian team to discuss their spirit of camaraderie, pre-event rituals and what the games really mean to them.

Ellie Cole

Ellie Cole, OAM is Australia’s most decorated female paralympian and a shining star in the swimming community, having won medals at the paralympic games, world championships and Commonwealth Games across a range of events. Throughout her life she has overcome the odds to excel in her sporting career, serving as an inspirational force for good.

‘I feel as though the Swim Team have such a legacy in the Australian sporting landscape and it’s been very special to contribute to that legacy whilst advocating for people with a disability at the same time.’

Tina Rahimi

Making her Commonwealth Games debut this year, Tina Rahimi will be the first female Muslim boxer to represent Australia at the event. Having taken up the sport just four years ago, she is now looking ahead to a career as one of Australia’s most promising boxers, hoping to spread the message that everyone has the ability to achieve their dreams.

‘It’s really motivating to be around a group of athletes who share the same dreams as you – I feel as if I can train better around such a motivated team. It helped me have a sense of comfort knowing I still had people supporting and believing in me, even when away from family/friends.’

Ridge Barredo

Birmingham 2022 will be the second Commonwealth Games appearance for weightlifter Ridge Barredo, who has come back fighting after an injury threatened his chances of qualifying in 2021. When he’s not competing in the sport, he’s also an avid rugby league player and basketballer, and works as a nurse in his native Sydney.

After a quad tendon tear in 2021, I was starting to think there wasn’t enough time to rehab and get myself back to the form which would qualify me for the Commonwealth Games. So at the Singapore international, after I knew I had lifted enough to qualify, I was elated. It also meant that 2018 wasn’t a fluke and that I belonged on the big stage.’

Sharni Williams

Sharni Williams, OAM is a celebrated athlete at the forefront of women’s rugby in Australia. Having triumphed throughout her decade-long career in rugby sevens, she’s hoping to upgrade her silver medal from the 2018 Commonwealth Games this year and win gold, to match the olympic medal she took home from Rio 2016.

‘Representing a country of 25 million people that are a part of a huge sporting nation is surreal. Competing for me is more than being on the global stage, its more than just sport, it’s about humanity, equality, destiny, visibility and hope.’

Maurice Longbottom

Maurice Longbottom is a proud Dharawal athlete and rugby sevens player with over 20 caps to his name. Aiming to inspire the next generation of indigenous athletes, he has played for Australia at a number of global sporting events, including the world series, Olympic Games and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

‘I do have certain rituals for events - I always take my two indigenous budgy smugglers and make sure I’m wearing them in every game! I also like to write the word family on my wrist for my family back home and also my family I’m about to take the field with.’

The Commonwealth Games Birmingham 2022 begins on Thursday 28th July and ends on Monday 8th August. Tune in to support team Australia and see them proudly wearing their R.M.Williams uniforms at the opening and closing ceremonies.