Jess Hull won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games and admitted on Saturday night that she “desperately” wanted to win gold. But she’s walking away with a gold medal in sportsmanship after once again showing her absolute class in defeat.
Hull was second in the women’s mile on day nine in Glasgow as part of an Aussie clean sweep of the medals. Abbey Caldwell took the gold, with Claudia Hollingsworth completing an Aussie trifecta with bronze. It’s the first time in Comm Games history that a country has swept the medals in the event.
Jess Hull was rapt for her teammates despite missing out on gold again. Image: Channel 7/Getty
It wouldn’t have been an easy pill to swallow for Hull considering she was the red-hot favourite, but she put it aside with a stunning show of sportsmanship. Hull was beaming with pride for her fellow Aussies and was rapt for Caldwell and Hollingsworth.
There were similar scenes in the 5000m when Hull won silver and was overjoyed for gold medallist Rose Davies. Tamsyn Manou said in commentary for Channel 7: “Can we just take a moment to say how kind-hearted Jess Hull is. The way that after she’s finished second in both races but the smile across her face, you can’t put that on.
“She’s such a genuine, genuine person – the hug, the smiles, the pride that she has that all the three of them have got the medal.”
Hull admitted afterwards that she wanted the gold but said a podium sweep was “all that mattered”. The Olympic silver medallist said: “I think some people think I’m not hungry to win myself. I want a gold so desperately. I’ve had a lot of silvers and bronzes now. But I love the sport to death.
“As much I can wish it was a gold, in those moments it’s just the joy of being out there and racing and competing hard. Both times, behind Rose and behind Abbey tonight, I ran the best race I could. When you walk off the track with that – silver, bronze, fourth – it all feels like gold because you’ve achieved that.
“Behind those smiles and eyes I promise you there’s a hunger for gold. I think you’re just seeing a pure joy for the sport.”
Jess Hull was beaming with pride for her fellow Aussies. Image: Getty
One person wrote on social media: “Silver in the race. Gold in sportsmanship.” Another wrote: “True sportsmanship, this gal is all class.” While a third added: “The role model we all need.”
Aussies make athletics history at Commonwealth Games
The Aussies won 10 more gold on Saturday night, including seven in athletics. It marked Australia’s most successful day in athletics in Commonwealth Games history, and their overall haul of 34 athletics medals – 12 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze – equalled the country’s best result on foreign soil.
The Aussies won a stunning gold in the 4×100m relay, while Jemima Montag (women’s 10,000m walk), Matt Denny (men’s discus), Rhiannon Clarke (women’s 200m T38), Mackenzie Little (women’s javelin) and Kurtis Marschall (men’s pole vault) all triumphed as well. Jye Dixon and Emma Sue-Greentree both won gold in boxing, while Leigh Hoffman won in the men’s sprint cycling.
