GB return from World Games with six gold medals

15 August 2013 11:50

Great Britain returned from the ninth World Games in Cali (Colombia) last week having won six gold medals.

The World Games, held every four years, were first staged in 1981 and provide a platform for world competition in sports not included in the Olympics. In 1985 the World Games were staged in London, with several events being held at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

Since then the Games have grown with each staging. Around 4,000 athletes were competing in Cali in over 30 sports, ranging from Artistic Roller Skating and Orienteering to Parachuting and Karate.

In addition to the six golds won, Great Britain also picked up six silver, and three bronze medals. This haul of 15 medals placed Britain ninth on an overall medals table topped by Italy.

In 2009, Great Britain won four gold, six silver, and nine bronze medals, finishing eleventh on the overall medals table.

The British gold medallists in Cali were:

Alice Upcott and Dominic Smith (Acrobatic Gymnastics – Mixed Pairs)

Danielle Jones and Shanie Redd Thorne (Acrobatic Gymnastics – Women’s Pairs)

Naomi Folkard (Field Archery – Recurve)

Darren Appleton (Pool)

Katherine Driscoll and Amanda Parker (Synchronised Trampolining)

Damien Sharman (Water Skiing – Jump)

Unfortunately the only visual coverage of the Cali 2013 World Games was online, with live footage occasionally plagued by buffering issues.

When asked via Twitter why they chose not to broadcast the World Games, British Eurosport somewhat sidestepped the question replying, “We have just finished our coverage of the Universiade from Kazan and now have the FINA World Championships and Tour of Poland.”

BBC Sport failed to respond.

Source: DSG