Australia’s Rose Davies stands alone as the only woman in history – from any country – who’s won gold in both the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres at the Commonwealth Games after a glorious run in Glasgow.
And in an Aussie one-two epic on Friday (AEST), Jessica Hull picked up silver.
Rose Davies leads Jessica Hull to the line. Getty Images
“Unforgettable, memorable, just so special,” commentary legend Bruce McAvaney said on Seven.
Three days after clinching gold in the 10,000m, Davies completed the dream double as she out-kicked Hull in a pulsating dash down the home straight.
Speaking afterwards, Davies said she “blacked out” in the sprint finish.
It was a race in three at the bell, between Davies, Hull and local hope Megan Keith.
Davies moved first, shifting gears with 200m to go. Hull followed and Keith faded.
And although many were probably expecting Hull to out-sprint Davies with her 800m/1500m/mile speed, it was Davies – who specialises in longer distances than Hull – who pulled clear in the final 50m to ink her name in the history books.
Previously, no woman had won gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m across Commonwealth Games, let alone at a single Games.
“I can’t believe it,” Davies said.
“Having Jess on your shoulder with 100m to go is scary, but I honestly just blacked out and was running as hard as I could.”
Davies secured gold in 14:44.53, ahead of Hull (14:45.01) and Keith (14:49.10).
Australia’s Linden Hall, who had come down with a stomach illness, finished seventh in 14:55.28.
Rose Davies claims gold, ahead of silver medallist Jessica Hull. Getty Images
Davies was born and raised in Newcastle, and still lives there. Hull is from Albion Park but lives in Newcastle now too, after returning from her US base in 2023 to be coached by her dad Simon.
“We both train at the same track in Newcastle, I see her week-to-week,” Davies said.
“To have two Newcastle girls gunning for the line at the Commonwealth Games, to come first and second, is insane and so good for Newcastle.
“Jess is obviously a massive inspiration to me. She’s such a role model for the sport and to be in a sprint finish with her is crazy.”
Hull, smiling, clapped for Davies after crossing the finish line. The two golden girls then embraced, collected an Australian flag each, and paraded around Scotstoun Stadium.
“I’ve been on teams with Rose for a long time now and I’ve seen her rise over time. I hope she takes a moment to reflect on her growth,” Hull said.
“The composure she had to hold me down the straight – that’s not easy to do when you have an athlete on your shoulder, and she did it with so much pride.”
Davies and Hull celebrate. AP Photo/Alastair Grant
Hull, the silver medallist in the 1500m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, will go for gold in the mile at 6.45am on Sunday (AEST), as will Australia’s Claudia Hollingsworth and Abbey Caldwell.
Davies, whose work in Glasgow is now done, can sit back, relax, and try to comprehend the history she has achieved.
Australia won four gold medals on day seven of the Glasgow Games, across athletics, cycling and para cycling, to bump its gold medal haul up to 51.
England and Canada have both won 15 golds – the old enemy sitting second with a superior overall medal tally.
Davies soaks up glory. AP Photo/Alastair Grant
On the velodrome on day seven, Australia won gold medals in the women’s 4000m team pursuit, men’s team sprint and women’s C4-5 4000m individual pursuit.
Champion para cyclist Tara Neyland, on her Commonwealth Games debut, won a gold medal match against England’s Morgan Newberry.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Married At First Sight star in Glasgow, weightlifter Ridge Barredo, had a horror fall while attempting a clean and jerk at 190 kilograms.
His right knee buckled and he hit the deck, which he admitted was “a bit scary”.