Tasmanian Commonwealth Games Athletes

The Commonwealth Games kick off in Birmingham on 28 August 2022, running for eleven days. Fifteen Tasmanian’s have been selected to compete for Australia, including eight athletes making their Commonwealth Games debut. For more information on each of the athletes and to keep up with their schedules and results visit our Commonwealth Games page.

Read below for more information on the Tasmanian's competing.

Jacob Despard – Athletics

Jacob will be making his Commonwealth Games debut in the Men’s 4x100m Relay. 2022 has seen Jacob achieve a new personal best in the 100m with a time of 10.24 at the Oceania Championships in June. He followed this up at his first international open meet, the Resisprint International, in Switzerland running a wind assisted 10.19 (+2.4).

Jack Hale – Athletics

This will be Jack’s second Commonwealth Games appearance, following his debut on the Gold Coast in 2018. Jack will be looking to improve on the Men’s 4x100m Relay finish of fourth on the Gold Coast and secure a podium finish. Jack has continued his progression and his personal best time stands for the 100m at 10.12 which he ran in February 2020.

Stewart McSweyn – Athletics

Birmingham will be Stewart’s second Commonwealth Games appearance, where he will race for Australia in the Men’s 1500m. After a serious bout of long COVID, Stewart has just wrapped up at the World Championships in Oregon where he finished 9^th in the 1500m final. Stewart is currently the national record holder in the 10,000m, 3,000m and 1500m events.

Georgia Baker – Cycling

For her second Commonwealth Games campaign, Georgia will be competing as both a member of the Women’s Track Endurance Team in the Team Pursuit and 10km Scratch Race and on the road in the Time Trial and Road Race. Georgia is also a dual Olympian, making her debut at Rio in 2016 and at the Tokyo Olympic Games competed on the track in the Madison and Team pursuit.

Josh Duffy – Cycling

Josh will make his Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham as a member of the Men’s Track Cycling Team. In May 2022, Josh teamed with Graeme Frislie, Conor Leahy and James Moriarty to win Gold in the Team Pursuit at the 2022 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Nations Cup in Milton Canada. In Birmingham, Josh will compete in the Team Pursuit, 15km Scratch Race and 1000m Time Trial.

Sam Fox – Cycling

Sam started his Mountain Bike journey at the Launceston Mountain Bike Club and next week will make his Commonwealth Games debut in the Men’s Cross Country race as well as the Men’s Road Race. Sam travels the world competing in the MTB Mercedes-Benz World Cup Series where he is currently ranked 15 in the overall 2022 standings of the U23 Men.

Emily Meaney – Diving

Emily will make her Commonwealth Games debut competing in the Women's 10m Platform at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Emily and her family now live in Queensland to access the National High Performance Program, although she is still a proud Tasmanian regularly competing for the State on the national arena.

Josh Beltz – Hockey

Josh will back up his Olympic Games debut last year with a Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham. Josh will take to the pitch as part of the men’s Hockey squad, the Kookaburras. Since his debut for the Kookaburras in 2015, Josh has played 60 games scored 4 goals.

Eddie Ockenden – Hockey

Eddie will Co-Captain the Kookaburras at his fourth Commonwealth Games appearance. As the most capped Australian player on the team, Eddie will be looking to continue on the success of his last three Commonwealth Games, which all ended with a Gold medal win. Eddie has represented Australia in many elite events, including four Olympic Games, three World Cups, the pro League, Champions Trophy and World League Finals.

Rebecca Van Asch – Lawn Bowls

Bec will make her second Games appearance for the Australian Lawn Bowls team the Jackaroos, competing in the Triples and Fours. On the Gold Coast in 2018, Bec won two gold medals becoming the first Australian Lawn Bowler to win multiple medals.

Ariarne Titmus – Swimming

This will be Ariarne’s second Commonwealth Games appearance, having first competed on the Gold Coast in 2018 where she left with 3 Gold’s and a Silver medal. Ariarne will take to the pool in the 200m, 400, & 800m Freestyle events, as well as the 4 x 200m Relay. Having moved from southern Tasmania to Queensland in 2015, Ariarne has gone from strength to strength, leaving the Tokyo Olympic Games with 2 Gold’s, a Silver and a Bronze medal.

Jacob Templeton – Para Swimming

Jacob will make his Commonwealth Games debut, competing in the Men’s 50m Freestyle S13. Jacob was classified as legally blind in 2013 due to a congenital condition, making his debut for Australia in 2014 at the Para Pan Pacific Championships in Pasadena, California.

Jake Birtwhistle – Triathlon

Jake will be looking to add to his medal collection when he attends his second Commonwealth Games. Now 27, Jake started in Triathlon at 17 and has since won Gold at the ITU World Triathlon Series in 2018 & 2019 and the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Erica Burleigh – Para Triathlon

Having competed in her first elite triathlon just five months ago, Erica will now make her Commonwealth Games debut in the Women’s Para-Triathlon PTVI. Erica is a survivor of Meningococcal B contracted in her teenage years, which left her with limited vision. In the Para-Triathlon, Erica will compete with Guide Felicity Cradick.

Hayden Armstrong – Para Triathlon (Guide)

Hayden will make his Commonwealth Games debut as Guide for triple Paralympian Gerard Gosens in the Men’s Para-Triathlon PTVI event. To qualify, the guide must be classified as an amateur athlete, have clear communication skills and be faster than the person they're guiding.