Tyler Wright's emotional win at Bells Beach and a Rugby 7s comeback for bronze headlines the Aussie achievements in Olympic sport from the long weekend.
Surfing
Two-time World Surf League (WSL) Champion Tyler Wright has secured her maiden Bells Beach title in Victoria.
“Honestly this means the world right now,” Tyler said.
“I want to start by thanking the Wadawurrung people for having us here on their country this week. This is an emotional win for me. I’ve won two World Titles but this win feels almost as big for me. I’ve been competing here and walking down those stairs for 12 years now and to get the win, with a lot of my family here, I’m over the moon and beyond stoked.
“It’s been a long four years for me recovering from what I went through (post-viral syndrome) and I’m only just feeling like myself in the water again. There’s been multiple times where I just wanted to give up. I worked so hard to be here, and I’m just so beyond grateful to have the support I had, and the love and the care as well. It is more than a win, it’s the only event I ever really wanted to win and here I am and I’m pretty over the moon and beyond stoked.”
Tyler adapted perfectly to the move from the Bells Bowl to Rincon in clean but dropping surf, claiming her 15th Championship Tour (CT) event.
In the last heat of the event Tyler took on three-time Bells winner and reigning five-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore, in what was their third Bells Final together after Moore win in 2013 and 2014. Tyler posted an 8.93 out of 10 in the opening seconds of the heat then backed it up with an 8.00, leaving Moore chasing for the remainder of the heat.
The win is Tyler's first CT victory since the opening event of the 2021 season and it has rocketed her to the second position on the world rankings.
On the men's side CT rookie Callum Robson was the best of the Aussies as he finished second, ahead of Mick Fanning and Jack Robinson.
Rugby 7s
The Australian men's 7s team has claimed bronze at the World Rugby Sevens Series leg in Vancouver, stealing victory from Samoa in the dying stages of the bronze medal match.
They've done it!
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 18, 2022
A comeback as late as they come and Nathan Lawson crashes over for the try, and with the conversion, @Aussie7s will take home Bronze!#HSBC7s | #Canada7s pic.twitter.com/tnsuiw8CRl
A Nathan Lawson try on full-time and converted by Maurice Longbottom propelled the Aussies to a 21-19 win, which completed a standout weekend.
Australia faced tournament hosts Canada and Spain in their opening two games, defeating both sides before falling to reigning champions South Africa in their final pool match.
In the quarter-finals they took down trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand 19-12, with Corey Toole scoring a double for Australia.
Argentina proved to be the speed bump for the Australians during their road to the finals, as the Olympic bronze medallists outpaced Australia to win 24-12.
The World Series continues with the women in action on 30 April - 1 May in Langford, Canada.
Judo
Katharina Haecker has brought home gold for Australia on what was a big day one of the 2022 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships.
On the same day Tinka Easton and Josh Katz secured bronze in their individual events.
Aoife Coughlan and Kayhan Ozcicek-Takagi closed out Australia's individual event success with bronze medals.
Water Polo
After more than 600 games across a five-day festival of water polo, the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships winners were decided in Brisbane.
The gold medal matches were hotly contested by Queensland and New South Wales teams, with each state splitting the U14, U16 and U18 boys and girls finals with three wins each.
Badminton
The Badminton National Team Championships had a successful and exciting return in Bendigo, Victoria after a two-year hiatus.
Team Queensland came away as the 2022 National Team Champions, winning the Ede Clendinnen Shield for defeating Victoria three matches to two.
It's the first time Queensland has taken home the shield in its 87-year history.
Dual Olympian Hsuan-Yu Chen took out the women's singles title, while Tokyo 2020 Olympian Gronya Somerville won in the women's doubles and mixed doubles.
Equestrian
Three-time Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander competed in the Global Champions Tour on Miami Beach, USA.
In a pairing with American Laura Kraut, the duo finished 13th.
