• South African swimming star Chad le Clos wins his 18th medal with a silver in the 200m final
English cyclist Matt Walls was involved in a horror crash at the Commonwealth Games yesterday when he was catapulted over the barriers and into the crowds at the Lee Valley VeloPark.
The Olympic omnium champion, competing in the men’s scratch qualifiers at the London venue, received treatment for more than 40 minutes before being taken away by ambulance.
Spectators watching the race were also hurt after Walls and his bike came over the top of the barriers on the high banking of a corner.
Team England said in an update: “Matt is alert and talking - as he has been throughout - and is being given medical attention in hospital.”
Witnesses said that, because of the gradient of the banking, spectators in the front row had been unsighted for the crash. One man received treatment for cuts to his arm while a young girl also received medical attention.
Walls had been trying to avoid riders who had fallen. The stricken pair of New Zealand’s George Jackson and Australia’s Josh Duffy slid up the banking, forcing Walls up on to the barrier and then over it.
Canadian Derek Gee also surfed the top of the barrier but managed to avoid following Walls into the stands.
The Isle of Man’s Matt Bostock was also taken to hospital with head and shoulder injuries while Canadian Mathias Guillemette was disqualified for causing the initial crash. A total of eight riders went down on the last lap of the race, with medics and coaches immediately rushing to help soon after the crash. An England coach climbed up the banks to reach Walls in the crowd.
The remainder of the morning session at the velodrome was cancelled and spectators were asked to leave as medical staff attended to Walls, who won omnium gold and madison silver for Team Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympic Games held last year. The cycling events are being held in London whereas the Games are centered in Birmingham.
Swim star Chad le Clos equals Commonwealths medals record
South African swimming star Chad le Clos won his 18th Commonwealth Games medal yesterday to equal the all-time record after taking silver in the men’s 200m butterfly.
The 30-year-old came to Birmingham with 17 medals across three Games and has now pulled level with shooters Michael Gault and Phil Adams.
Le Clos, who pulled out of the world championships in Budapest in June, was the pre-race favourite to retain his title at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre.
He was in the lead as he turned with 50m to go but New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt found an extra gear to edge him out.
Clareburt touched in 1min 55.60sec, 0.29sec ahead of the South African, to win his second gold medal in Birmingham after winning the men’s 400m individual medley. England’s James Guy took bronze.
Silver medallist South Africa’s Chad le Clos (left), gold winner New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt (centre) and bronze medallist England’s James Guy pose after the 200m butterfly final at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham yesterday. (AFP)