By Emilie Ng
MISSING out on the Year 11 semi-formal is the small price Rowan Crothers has to pay for being Australia’s newest Commonwealth Games gold medalist and world record holder.
The 16-year-old St Laurence’s College student won gold in the para-sport men’s 100 metres freestyle event on July 24 at the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
His race also broke the world record with a 54.58 second swim.
In a statement on his official Facebook page, Mr Crothers thanked the community for their “amazing support”.
“Stay safe everyone and I hope the rest of my year 11 cohort St Laurence’s College have a fantastic semi-formal. Sorry I wont be there to party on with you guys,” Mr Crothers said.
Former St Laurence’s College student Damon Kelly also won the bronze in the over-150kg weightlifting event.
College teacher Brian Joye’s daughter Hannah Joye also competed at the high jump finals finishing in sixth place.
College principal Ian McDonald said the school community was “proud of them all”.
Days after his win Mr Crothers flew to the United States for the Parapanpacs.
The new Australian gold medalists is the third champion para swimmer to come from St Laurence’s College.
He follows the success of 1967 graduate Greg Hartung, now chair of the Paralypic Committee, and 1982 graduate and field athlete and paralympian Brian Harvey.
Mr Crothers was born 15 weeks premature and developed cerebral palsy and a chronic lung disease.
He is a youth ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland.
