Commonwealth Games: 9 memorable moments in ‘Friendly Games’ history including Jim Peters and The Miracle Mile

The Commonwealth Games have brought us some of the biggest sporting memories in history.

Every four years, athletes from around the world descend on a part of the Commonwealth to compete in a series of sports.

Here is a look back at some of the best moments from the history of the Games since its inception in 1930.

9- David Bryant wins a fourth consecutive lawn bowls singles title - Edmonton 1978

Bryant was relatively late to the international scene, debuting at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth where he won two gold medals.

He dominated the sport at the Commonwealth Games through the 1970s, winning the singles again at Edinburgh 1970 and Christchurch 1974 before winning a fourth consecutive gold medal at Edmonton 1978, bringing his total of Commonwealth Games gold medals to five.

8- Australian record breakers on the Gold Coast 2018

In the last Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, the Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team broke their own world record.

The Australian quartet was never in doubt for the gold medal, with lead-off swimmer Shayna Jack and Bronte Campbell, swimming the second leg, establishing a one body-length lead over the rest of the field. Emma McKeon managed to extend that lead to two body-lengths before handing over to former 100m freestyle world record holder Cate Campbell.

7- Malawi conquer New Zealand in Netball - Gold Coast 2018

The African nation secured their first ever victory over the two time Commonwealth Games gold medalists New Zealand.

Malawi players embraced each other at full time, and the result would mean that New Zealand would eventually miss out on a medal on the Gold Coast.

The victory was Malawi’s first over New Zealand in 10 attempts.

6 - Cathy Freeman carries the Aboriginal and Australian flags on victory laps at Victoria 1994

Cathy Freeman went down in history as the first ever Aboriginal winner of a Commonwealth Games gold medal.

She took to her victory lap with an Aboriginal flag after her victory in the 4x100 relay.

Asked if he had a problem with Freeman carrying the indigenous flag, Ray Godkin, President of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, said: "I fail to see any problem with it.

"We see people run around with the boxing kangaroo flag all the time. It’s not the official flag, and there are never any problems with that."

5- Queen late for appointment after watching Precious McKenzie win weightlifting gold again - Christchurch 1974

Queen Elizabeth II was one of many fans of the weightlifter known as ‘The Pocket Rocket’.

She was so much of a fan that, legend has it, she missed an official royal engagement to watch McKenzie’s gold medal performance at the Christchurch 1974 Commonwealth Games.

4- Jade Jones wins Para Triathlon after just 18 months of being able to swim - Gold Coast 2018.

Team England para athlete Jade Jones became the first ever winner of the paratriathlon in 2018 - despite being unable to swim just 18 months earlier.

Jade had competed as a wheelchair racer at the Olympics in London 2012 and Rio 2016 as well as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014, but she was keen to take part in the para triathlon.

She taught herself to swim and went on to win gold on the Gold Coast.

3- Filbert Bayi sets world record in the 1,500m - Christchurch 1974

In what has been labelled as one of the greatest ever races at the Commonwealth Games, Filbert Bayi set a world record in the 1,500m race in Christchurch 1974.

Bayi, who was 20 at the time, came out on top in a field which included New Zealand’s Rod Dixon, bronze in the 1,500m, and Kenya’s Ben Jipcho, silver in 3,000m steeplechase, and Mike Boit, bronze in the 800m.

There was also England’s Brendan Foster, winner of the bronze medal in the 1,500m at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

2- Jim Peters collapses at end of the marathon in the 1954 British Empire Games

One of the more dramatic moments in the history of the Games, Jim Peters stumbled to the floor after running a full marathon in the sweltering Vancouver heat.

Calls were made for the event to be stopped as Peters started to sway across the track.

1- Roger Bannister beats John Landy in the "Miracle Mile" - Vancouver 1954

Earlier in 1954, Roger Bannister had broken a world record to become the first man ever to complete a mile in under four minutes.

His main opponent in the mile race of the Vancouver 1954 Games was Australian John Landy who had smashed the world record shortly after Bannister broke the four minute mile.

Landy ran his mile in 3 minutes 57.9 seconds, setting up an intriguing race in Canada.

Bannister won the gold with a Commonwealth record time of 3:58.8, with Landy registering a second place finish of 3:59.6.

The race marked the first time in history that the four minute mile had been broken by two men in the same race.