Tara Murray
Maribyrnong’s Luke Plapp and Seddon’s Jessica Gallagher are among 34 Australian cyclists who will head to the Commonwealth Games.
Cycling Australia announced their team for Birmingham on Thursday morning, with 23 team members making their games debut.
Plapp, an Olympic bronze medallist, is among them.
The 21-year-old, who is starting to make his mark on the road, has been named as part of the track team.
Gallagher, 36, continues to display her immense sporting talents being named to her second Commonwealth Games.
Legally blind due to Best’s disease, a rare condition, Gallagher started to lose her eyesight when she was a teenager bringing a premature end to her promising netball career.
It will be her second Commonwealth Games, after winning two silvers at the 2018 games.
“It’s incredibly exciting,” she said. “When I made the decision to return to cycling it was for the opportunity to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games.
Commonwealth Games Australia Team Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM said the powerful cycling squad was one of the nation’s favourite teams.
“This team includes returning Commonwealth Games gold medallists and highly experienced Australian representatives, as well as a group of talented cyclists making their debut and ready to take on the Commonwealth’s best at the Birmingham Games,” Thomas said.
“I know that they will all be working hard between now and the Games, ready to be bold, brave and brilliant in Birmingham. I wish them all the best for their preparations and competition, and hope they know we are all behind them.”
