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Nine-time World Championships medalist Alia Atkinson was the flag bearer for Jamaica at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. She announced the news on her Instagram:
Atkinson led a total of 151 athletes representing 15 different sports for her country. Jamaica has won 134 medals (52 gold, 38 silver and 44 bronze) from their participation in the previous 16 Commonwealth Games.
Atkinson can already attribute two of those medals to her own resume after earning silver in the 50 Breaststroke and bronze in the 100 Breaststroke at the 2014 Games in Glasgow.
She also currently owns World Records in both the 50 and 100 SCM Breaststroke. She set the former in 2016 and the longer distance in 2014.
Relive Atkinson’s historic 100 Breaststroke World Record performance below:
The swim made history for Jamaica as it was the country’s first short course world title. Atkinson was already the only Jamaican swimmer to ever medal with silvers in the 50 breast (2012, 2014) and 100 breast (2012).
She defended her title in this event in 2016 by defeating Lilly King and also picked up another silver in the 50.
The Jamaica Observer contributed to this report.
