Canadian athletes to watch at the Commonwealth Games

The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games are set to begin with the opening ceremony on Thursday, followed by a slate of events over the course of a week and a half. In all, 272 Canadian athletes will compete across various sports and parasports. Before breaking down some Canadian athletes to watch, here’s a history of the games.

The Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport event involving countries from the Commonwealth of Nations. It includes 56 member states that were former territories of the British Empire. However, 72 teams currently participate in the Games as many dependent territories compete under their own flag. 

Canadian journalist Melville Marks Robinson founded the formerly-named British Empire Games. Coincidently for Robinson, who worked as the sports editor at the Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton became the first host of the games in 1930. While 20 sporting events currently take place, in 1930, the events were limited to only athletics, boxing, lawn bowling, rowing, swimming, and wrestling. Women were only allowed to compete in swimming events. Tickets ranging from 35 cents to $5 day passes sold out. 

With the success of the first games, it was decided the Commonwealth Games would occur every four years between the Olympic Games. After the third games, there was a 12-year hiatus due to World War II.

The 1954 Vancouver Games marked the first time countries no longer part of the British Empire competed. The name of the event changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games. The 1978 Edmonton Games saw the name change again to the Commonwealth Games, the last of the name changes. 

The 2018 Australian Games saw the most gender inclusivity in history as men and women competed in the same number of events and earned the same number of medals. This year, the event will distribute more medals to women, the first of any multi-sport international meet. Here are some notable Canadian athletes to watch during the event.  

Swimming

A two-time Commonwealth Champion in 2018, Kylie Masse will look to defend her title in the 100m and 200m backstroke. At the 2022 World Aquatics Championship, Masse won the gold medal in the 50m backstroke. However, she took the silver medal after a first-place qualifying in the 100m backstroke and she missed out on the podium in the 200m backstroke. Nevertheless, Masse is sure to put on a show at the games.

15-year-old Summer McIntosh rose onto the scene during the 2021 swimming season. After becoming the youngest person named to the Canadian Olympic team, McIntosh broke the Canadian national record in the women’s 409m freestyle, but she did not win any Olympic medals. During the 2022 season, she broke numerous national and Commonwealth records. The Commonwealth Games will be an opportunity for her to show off her improved skills on an international stage. 

Athletics 

After winning a gold medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championship, Brendon Rodney will go into the Commonwealth Games on a high. Unfortunately, Rodney will be without fellow relay teammates Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown and Jerome Blake, who withdrew from the competition on Tuesday. 

Camryn Rogers became Canada’s first woman to win a field medal at the 2022 Athletics Championship. She took home the silver medal in the hammer throw competition. This will be her first time competing in the Commonwealth Games. After breaking two Canadian national records in the NCAA D1 Indoor and Outdoor Championships, she’ll hope to add another medal to her growing collection.

Weightlifting 

After a surprising gold at the 2020 Olympics, Maude Charron will look to defend her 2018 Commonwealth gold medal at this year’s games. Charron will compete in the 64kg competition. She holds the clean and jerk Commonwealth Games record. Alongside wheelchair racer Josh Cassidy, she will be the flag bearer for the opening ceremony.