Pearse, Wilson chase more glory in Glasgow

GOLD medallists in Birmingham four years ago, lawn bowls champion Aaron Wilson and swimming star Col Pearse are gearing up to chase more glory at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Since he first started bowling on the greens across Bendigo and district more than 20 years ago, Wilson has achieved plenty in the sport.

Gold in the singles at his Commonwealth Games debut on the Gold Coast in 2018 was followed by victory on Birmingham’s greens four years later.

In Glasgow, he will aim for a singles hat-trick.

Wilson’s feats earnt Bendigo Sports Star of the Year honours for 2016–17 and 2018–19.

He is the only lawn bowler to have earnt the gold statue in what is now the 61st year of Sports Star.

Wilson’s emergence in the game was recognised by being the first and only lawn bowler to receive the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund in the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year awards in 2008–09.

The gun bowler who was born in St Arnaud and later moved to Bendigo with his family is now bowling for Cabramatta in New South Wales, but did play a special one-off match for Strathfieldsaye in last summer’s Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields premier division pennant.

For Pearse, there are many more laps in the pool to be swum as he prepares for a second Commonwealth Games campaign.

An outstanding swim at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris meant Pearse was joint winner of Sports Star in 2024 with Olympic swimmer Jenna Strauch.

Among the highs of Pearse’s career was silver in the 200m medley for SM10 class at the Paris Paralympics almost two years ago.

In Glasgow, Pearse will be aiming for back-to-back victories in the 100m butterfly for the S10 class.

The champion from Bamawm Extension was selected in a para-swim squad of 18 to race in Scotland.

Four years ago it was Pearse and Australian teammate Alex Saffy who went one-two.

Both are among the leading medal contenders for Glasgow.

It’s a stripped-back format for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games to be held from 23 July to 2 August, in which 10 sports are on the program.