Eliza Ault-Connell can laugh now about the “bingle” that set off a sequence of events that led to her claiming one of the most unusual medals of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Ault-Connell was caught up in a dramatic crash in the first running of the women’s 1500m T54 final when she was cut off by Canadian rival Nandini Sharma, who was disqualified and stripped of her silver medal.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Aussie goes down in crash chaos

Ault-Connell’s successful protest forced a re-run at Scotstoun Stadium, a decision that England’s chef de mission Jonny Riall challenged then slammed as “late” and “incredibly” disappointing.

The Australian made the most of her opportunity, adding a fourth Commonwealth medal to her career tally.

Part of an early three-person breakaway on Friday, she took bronze behind Scotland’s gold medallist Melanie Woods and Mauritian Noemi Alphonse.

It completed a rollercoaster ride for Ault-Connell, who launched a surprise second comeback last summer to compete at her fourth Games, 24 years after winning bronze on debut in Manchester.

“It’s been an absolutely massive few days,” the 44-year-old told AAP.

“To have the opportunity to have this race re-run and for everyone to be able to go out there and put on their best in great conditions is really the outcome that all the athletes want.

“It’s a pretty full-circle moment and an opportunity that as a senior athlete I didn’t think I’d be afforded.”

Ault-Connell, who almost died from meningococcal disease and had both legs amputated as a teenager, saw the crash coming but was trapped on the inside rail and could not avoid it.

She was left shaken and sore, but was never in doubt to compete once the re-run was confirmed.

“I put my left arm out and took it pretty hard on my bad side,” Ault-Connell said.

“Immediately there’s the shock of something like that happening.

“I felt a little jammed up and jarred ... but it was nothing that was going to put me out.

“To be able to stand on the podium with these two amazing athletes is pretty bloody special. I did not think this was on the 2026 card at all.”

There was plenty of collateral damage from the protest, with Australian Mikaela Dingley in the thick of it.

England’s Ellis Kottas and Dingley were upgraded to silver and bronze respectively when Sharma was disqualified, only to both miss out on medals in the re-run.

Dingley was a distant sixth in a heartbreaking end to her first event on Games debut.

“It’s rough, but it is racing,” Ault-Connell said.

“If she loves what she does and she continues to show up, it will happen.

“It’s hard but racing isn’t just the physicality, it’s the mental aspect too.

“It’s almost like ‘cruel to be kind’ but we all go through that and those opportunities are going to help you grow as an athlete.”

The cost of travel meant Ault-Connell’s three children couldn’t be with her in Glasgow, a situation made more difficult by the death of her ex-husband’s grandmother earlier this week.

“It’s been a pretty rough few days for them and having them at home has been a little bit of a challenge,” Ault-Connell said.

“But they’re pretty tough cookies.”

Ault-Connell and compatriot Aimee Fisher qualified for the women’s 400m T54 final less than two hours after the re-run 1500m T54 event.

Also on Friday, medal-hunting pair Brooke Buschkuehl and Delta Amidzovski both qualified for the women’s long jump final.

Australia’s mixed 4x400m team also advanced to a final after qualifying third-fastest behind Nigeria and England.