The Commonwealth Games are a display of various cultures and excellent sporting ability’ of the members of the commonwealth. This year it will no doubt display that even better with how culturally diverse the host city already is. Birmingham is not only a multicultural mecca and host of this years games, but it’s also home to some incredible athletes.
So lets meet some of our Brummie athletes set to represent Team England this summer.
Myles Hesson
Image Credit: Bigmatbasket, CC BY-SA 4.0 Myles Hesson (Basketball)
If there’s a word we can use to describe Myles Hesson’s career so far, its ‘exciting’. His impressive skills have taken him from gracing the British courts to playing professionally for several teams across Europe. He has virtually played professionally since he started his basketball career. Hesson played at the 2009 & 2010 European Championships with Great Britain’s U20 and won his first game playing for the British men’s national team in 2012. The 32-year-old is no rookie when it comes to professional sporting events. Competing in acclaimed events such as Germany’s Bundesliga. Although this is his first Commonwealth Games, his track record shows that he is definitely one to watch!
Niall Farrell
Image Credit: GBboxing.org
Niall Farrell (Boxing)
Brummie Boxer Niall Farrell won the 2017 Amateur Boxing Association British flyweight title, won a silver medal at the European Boxing Championships then went to compete at the world championships. His career took a major blow after sustaining hand injuries making him unable to compete in other major competitions including the Olympic qualifier of 2020. But he came back in full force afterwards and earned the selection for the World Championships in 2021. Even coming home with a silver medal. Speaking of his excitement for this years games Farrell says:
“I think that it’s going to be a big big thing for me being a hometown boy. I can’t wait to put a performance on for my home fans.”
Joe Fraser (Gymnastics)
Birmingham born Fraser, began his journey to becoming a gymnast at just 5 years old. Age has always been just a number for this athlete, and he certainly has a lot of achievements to prove it. At 19, he became a member of the British Senior Team going on to win silver for them in the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Despite tearing the ligaments in his ankles after a bad fall from the high bar in 2018. He didn’t let that get him down, even though it meant missing out on the 2018 Commonwealth Gold Coast Games. Unsurprisingly, he came back in full force and became the first and only British gymnast to win gold on the parallel bars at the 2019 World Gymnastics Championship. He has consistently displayed an incredible amount of strength and resilience throughout his career. Something we’re looking forward to seeing him showcase at this year’s games.
Chris Griffiths
Image credit: DJCOTTS - Ian Cottee, CC BY-SA 4.0 Christopher Griffiths (Hockey)
Field Hockey player Christopher Griffiths or ‘Chris’ for short plays as a forward for Old Georgians Hockey Team. And also features in both the England and Great Britain national teams. Although born in Birmingham, earlier in his career he captained and played for Loughborough Students. Before going on to compete at the Tokyo Olympics where he and the team came in at 5th place.
Griffiths is also a keen cricketer and avid Aston Villa supporter (we’ll forgive him for that one) and no stranger to the commonwealth games. In the 2018 games, he earned a bronze medal, so we’re sure he’s hoping to out-do that this year. Especially seeing as he’s playing in his hometown.
Layla Guscoth (Netball)
Layla Guscoth, is a member of the England national women’s netball team and testament to the fact that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. She secured multiple caps between 2012 and 2015 then put her Netball career on hold to secure an even bigger personal win. She entered the foundation years of her junior doctor training. A journey that certainly required a great amount of commitment and dedication.
Guscoth moved to Adelaide, playing for the Thunderbirds where she co-captained with fellow Brit; Chelsea Pitman. Returning to her hometown of Birmingham during the pandemic to work at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Although 2022 will be her first Commonwealth Games, we’re sure that she’ll bring the same energy and tenacity she does to working on the front line.
Stacey Francis Bayman (Netball)
Playing alongside Guscoth is fellow Brummie Stacey Francis Bayman. She began her senior career in 2005 playing for Team Bath. In 2011 and 2013, she was named the Netball Super League Player of the year after playing both in 2010 and the 2013 Netball Super League grand finals. Stacey is an experienced player and was a member of the England team that won bronze medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011 and 2015 Netball World Cups.
Not only is she an incredibly talented athlete, but she’s also an out and proud one. Bi-racial and bisexual Bayman is married to wife Sara and is an ambassador for ‘Pride House Birmingham’. This year’s Commonwealth games will be a hattrick for the former footballers daughter. It will also no doubt be bittersweet, after announcing she will retire after competing for the final time at home in Birmingham.
Sarah-Jane Perry
Image Credit: Mitch Zlotnik, CC BY-SA 4.0 Sarah Jane Perry (Squash)
If there’s someone to look out for at the games, its Sarah Jane Perry. Hailing originally from Sutton Coldfield Perry’s love for squash began with her father. He began taking her to lessons at 5 years old and they certainly paid off! Not only did she go on to win both the European Under 19 Individual Championships and the British Championship in 2009. Perry made the global top 20 before she even turned 23. She won 2 more British National Championships, at Under 23 level in 2012 and 2013.
Her first match at senior level for Team England came at the 2013 European Squash Championships. She also represented Great Britain at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia. Its no surprise as of July 2020, she reached a world ranking of No.5 (to those who don’t know what this means, it’s a pretty big deal).
Sarah played her first Commonwealth Games for Team England at the 2018 Gold Coast Games where she won a silver medal in the women’s singles. She’ll be looking to one up herself in her home arena, and we’re here for it!
Jaswant Shergill (Weightlifting)
Jaswant’s career has been a display of true resilience. He first started weightlifting at the age of 12 and went on to represent England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 62kg event.
His love for sports didn’t stop him from pursuing his passion of becoming a teacher and studying for his degree at Coventry University. Despite studying in Coventry, his heart never strayed too far from home. Returning to become a teacher, he hopes to inspire young people across Birmingham. From both inside and outside of the classroom. He is the perfect example to do just that! Showing them that you can really do it all if you’re determined enough.
Jaswant rejoices at missing the 2018 Commonwealth games due to an injury. But fighting fit, and ready to prove naysayers wrong; Shergill will be raring to display his strength at the Birmingham Games.
