Discus king defends crown as Aussies add more medals
Shayne Hope |
Matt Denny embraced a special moment with young son Roman after becoming the first man in 68 years to defend a Commonwealth Games discus title with victory in Glasgow.
Denny threw 67.73m in difficult conditions to beat Jamaica’s Fedrick Dacres (65.10) and his English training partner Lawrence Okoye (64.45).
The Paris Olympics bronze medallist adds another Commonwealth gold medal to his Birmingham 2022 triumph, after taking hammer throw silver on his Games debut at Gold Coast 2018.
The last man to successfully defend a Commonwealth discus title was South Africa’s Fanie du Plessis, who won in 1954 and 1958.
“I knew that there was that pressure there and I clearly had the best (throw) so far this season and had been performing the best, so there was that expectation there,” Denny said.
“More so I think the expectation was from myself, but it is very special to make these kind of marks and do what people haven’t done for a long time.
“It’s not an easy sport to do and I’m in good company, so I’m pretty proud of the fact I can still prove myself against those guys and put some good distances out.”
Denny did a lap of honour around the Scotstoun Stadium track with seven-month-old Roman in his arms.
The 30-year-old has had Roman and wife Mia with him on the road over the past few weeks in the United States and Europe, and said daily tasks like bath time had helped keep him grounded.
“(Roman) is not going to remember it but I know I will when I’m old and grey,” Denny said.
“It’s a tough sport and there’s a lot that goes into it behind the scenes, so you have to have people who understand how you need to operate.
“She (Mia) has been one of those people who just know how I operate, so to be able to share these moments with them … is the most important thing.”
Denny, who sits second on the all-time men’s discus list with the throw of 74.25m he achieved in 2025, led another medal-laden session for the Australian team on Saturday.
Para athletes shone as Rhiannon Clarke claimed gold in the women’s 200m T38, and Briseis Brittain took bronze, while Sam Rizzo secured bronze in the men’s 1500m T54.
Australia’s female race walkers secured a 20-year first when Jemima Montag spearheaded a clean sweep of the women’s 10,000m medals.
It was a third consecutive Commonwealth medal for Montag, who led home compatriots Elizabeth McMillen and Rebecca Henderson.
“I knew I had to be on my absolute A-game today to win and never underestimated how strong the other Aussies are,” Montag said.
“As lovely as it would be to coast through as Australia’s leading race walker, they actually pushed me and today was a PB.
“They keep me on my toes and it means that even now that I’m later in my career at 28, I am constantly being nudged in training to keep improving.”
Sprint stars Torrie Lewis and Lachie Kennedy were rested from the 4x100m relay heats as Australia qualified directly for the women’s and men’s finals.
Lewis and Kennedy both set national records when claiming medals in the individual 100m events and are crucial to Australia’s podium chances in the relays.
Lewis continued a stunning run of form when she lowered her own mark to 10.99 seconds to take bronze, while Kennedy broke Patrick Johnson’s long-standing record when he ran 9.85 to claim silver.
Johnson’s record was set in May 2003 – several months before the new sprint king was born.
Kennedy’s silver was Australia’s first Commonwealth men’s sprint medal since 1962.
AAP