Swim great Cole to lead Australian Youth Games team

Paralympic swimming legend Ellie Cole will lead the Australian team at this year’s Trinbago Commonwealth Youth Games in the Caribbean.

Cole, 31, was appointed general manager of the national team for the Youth Games, her first appointment to a team executive position.

She retired from competition last year soon after Birmingham, her third Commonwealth Games.

Cole’s career Games haul was one silver and three bronze medals.

In four Paralympics she won 17 medals, including six gold, to become Australia’s most decorated female Paralympian.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to once again be part of an organisation that gave me so many wonderful memories as an athlete,” Cole said.

“What motivates me most about the Commonwealth Games is that it provides a really unique opportunity to celebrate the power of sport.

“It will provide a foundation for these athletes to learn and grow into some pretty impressive individuals as we lead into Victoria 2026.”

Cole’s mentor, Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Petria Thomas, was Australian team chef de mission in Birmingham and will have the role again at the Victoria Games.

Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive Craig Phillips said Cole would be a major boost for the team.

“The Commonwealth Youth Games provide our next generation of talent with invaluable exposure to international competition,” he said.

“They are an important stepping stone in their high-performance development, often exposing them to the rigour and excitement of a multi-sport tournament for the first time.

“To have a leader of Ellie’s calibre bring her unique perspective is a huge advantage for our team and extremely beneficial for the athletes.”

Greg Hire, who won silver in 3×3 basketball at the Birmingham Games, was also appointed as Coles’ deputy.

The Youth Games will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from August 4-11, with seven sports on the program –  athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, Fast5 netball, rugby sevens, swimming, and triathlon.