Nowacki’s victories propel him to one of Jersey’s greatest ever sports stars.
The Commonwealth Games is the highest level at which athletes from the island, with a population of about 100,000, can compete under their own flag.
Previous to Colin and Cliff Mallett, Jersey had won just two medals in their own right.
In 1986, bantamweight boxer John Sillitoe won bronze in Edinburgh, while Jersey’s first-ever medal was also in the ring when Albert Turmel won welterweight bronze in Perth in 1962.
Islanders have won medals for England – diver Dot Macready won 10m gold in 1934, while more recently Serena Guthrie was part of the England team that won netball gold in 2018.
In 2006, Rebecca Herbert was part of the England hockey team that won bronze, while there were two bronze medals in 2002 for islanders representing England – Elizabeth Cann in badminton and swimmer Simon Militis in the 200m backstroke.
But with Nowacki aged just 18 and already a British senior and world junior champion few would bet against the swimmer going on to become the most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete in Jersey’s history.
He is also part of the Team GB set up with an aim firmly on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Jersey has not had an Olympic competitor since Militis went to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and all island eyes will be on their young hero bringing them more glory.
