Jemima snares first Gold for Jewish athletes in track and field
Jemima Montag has won the coveted Gold Medal in the 20km women’s walk at the Commonwealth Games on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Jemima Montag with her gold
The Victorian is the first Jewish Australian to win a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in track and field.
J-Wire understands she may be the first member of Australian Jewish community to have taken the gold in any event in the Games.
Montag told J-Wire that 400m runner Steven Solomon has been an inspiration for her for some time. Solomon will complete in the 400m tomorrow evening.
On the podium
Montag started competing at the age of eight in Little Athletic an Australian activity program that involves modified athletics events for children aged 5 to 15.
Her mother Amanda was a hurdler and was a member of the Maccabi team at the ill-fated 1997 Maccabiah.
Amanda Montag was nine weeks pregnant with daughter Jemima when she fell into the Yarkon River following the collapse of a makeshift bridge carrying the Australian contingent. Four athletes lost their lives.
Twenty years later, Jemima was the flag-bearer at the 2017 Maccabiah.
Amanda and her husband Ray were at the finishing line with Jemima’s grandmother and two sisters at the Gold Coast.
Jemima told J-Wire: “My plan was to cross the line with nothing left in the tank.
Jemima consoles Claire Tallent
Next on the agenda, will be competing in the world race walking championships in China in four weeks’ time. And then back for a long rest my science studies at uni.”
The Tokyo Olympics are in Jemima’s sights.
In the meantime, she will spend some of her time where it all started.
She said: “I will continue to coach at Little Athletics club in Caulfield.”
J-Wire understands David Lowenstein won a silver in weightlifting in 1986 .with Ivan Katz won silver in weightlifting in 1978.
Jemima won the race in 1hr 32min 50sec.
Claire Tallent was leading the race with 2km to go when she received her third card and was disqualified. She had a very slender lead on Jemima who consoled her fellow competitor.
Tallent told media: “I’m old and kudos to Jemima. She is a great girl and she is going to carry the flag for many, many more years to come. I just thought it was my day.”
Congratulation on the gold medal Jemima.
With so many medals being won by Australia its all a big blur on ABC TV news highlight.