Former Armidale local Gillian Backhouse will join Jake Birtwhistle, Ashleigh Gentle, Charlotte McShane, Luke Willian and Matt Hauser in the Australian team for the Commonwealth Games.
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Backhouse, who threw everything she had at the Rio Olympic Games selection and missed the team said it meant: “A lot!” to make a major Games team and a home Games.
“After the disappointment of Rio it took me a full season to get over it so while I was obviously hopeful of selection this time I didn’t have high hopes – it was a very open book,” said the Brisbane-based Backhouse, who was home in Armidale (NSW) when the news came through she was on the team.
“I always wanted to make a major Games team and this one is obviously pretty special and I will be lucky enough to experience it – some people wait all their lives and don’t get that opportunity.
“I cant stop pinching myself – and when I received the email – something in writing - inviting me to the Team Launch and the President’s Dinner it really hit home that I was actually a part of this team.”
She drove six-and-a-half hours to the Gold Coast on Thursday and admitted it was the “most enjoyable six-and-a-half hours drive I’ve ever driven in my life.”