Commonwealth Games: Gold medallist Olli Hoare ‘gutted’ after controversial trip in qualifiers

Olli Hoare said it will be a ‘tough one to swallow’ after he was tripped during the men’s one mile run qualifiers. 

Headshot of Fraser Williams
Fraser Williams
The West Australian
Ollie Hoare hit the ground during his heat at the Commonwealth Games.

Olli Hoare said it will be a “tough one to swallow” after he was tripped during the men’s one mile run qualifiers.

The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medallist feared he had been robbed of the opportunity to defend his win at Glasgow.

Two minutes into the qualifying race had the competitors bunched together, with Hoare looking to break away before he was tripped up from behind - hitting the deck hard.

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Left sprawled on his stomach, the 29-year-old was back on his feet and kept pushing on to finish the race despite the setback.

“I was in a bit of shock, and I got up and I was just out of the race from there, but I wanted to keep competing,” he told Channel 7.

“If you’re in the green and gold you have got to keep competing, that’s what we’re about.”

Oliver Hoare after the race.
Oliver Hoare after the race. Credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images

It left Hoare a fair way back of the pack, needing to scramble as he played catch up for the rest of the heat.

The Game NRL 2026

“That’s a tough one to swallow because it was out of my control,” he said after the race.

“I am gutted, I am really gutted . . . I don’t I’ve fallen before in a professional race.

“I would much rather have given it my all and not made it.”

Team Australia moved swiftly to protest the run, which was successfully won after a short deliberation from officials.

The 12-man final now becomes an extended 13-man field thanks to Hoare’s late addition.

Australian teammates Adam Spencer and Cameron Myers both qualified with their times, with the latter clocking the fastest time during the second heat.

While Lachlan Kennedy managed to qualify for the men’s 200m final following his stunning silver medal performance from the night before.

Despite easing up on the run, Kennedy was left gassed following the qualifier race.

“(Feeling) a little bit fried, but we’re good,” he told Channel 7.

“Probably could of hit it a little hard but was trying to save strength.”

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