Medal collectors

By Paul Pickering
THREE local athletes have joined the Aussie medal blitz at the Commonwealth Games.
Berwick residents Laetisha Scanlan and Ashleigh Brennan and Casey Tigersharks swimmer Ellie Cole were all among the medals in Delhi last week as the Australian team continued to dominate the Games.
Nineteen-year-old gymnast Brennan won gold as part of the Aussie team that successfully defended its Commonwealth title, while also adding an individual bronze medal in her pet event, the floor exercise.
Scanlan, 20, had her golden moment on the shooting range on Friday night, combining with 33-year-old Stacy Roiall to win the women’s trap pairs event with a Games record score.
The Monash University communications student, who is coached by her father Bernie, went on to finish 11th in the individual event the following night.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Paralympian Cole continues to emerge as one of Australian swimming’s brightest stars after claiming two bronze medals in her first Commonwealth Games.
The Casey-trained athlete claimed bronze in the S9 100m butterfly and S9 100m freestyle.
Cole was diagnosed with a severe cancer in her right leg at the age of two and required amputation of the leg to prevent the illness from spreading.
After the operation Cole continued with her everyday activities and before long she was surprising doctors and swim coaches alike with her ability as a swimmer.
Since that time Cole has taken out numerous national awards and at the age of 17 she finished with a silver and two bronze medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Cole last year moved from Frankston Kings to become a Tigershark.
She now has her eyes set firmly on the London Olympics in 2012.
Pick up this week’s Berwick-Pakenham Gazette for the full story on Scanlan and Brennan’s Delhi exploits.