Duo serve up Global Games medals
Published 12:00pm 27 June 2023
Words by Nick Crockford
Tim Gould and Mitchell James found more medal-winning form for Australia at the Virtus Global Games in France.
North Lakes resident Gould took gold and defended his Men’s Singles II-2 title, won four years ago when the Games were held in Brisbane.
He beat Jean Philippe Faivre, of France, in the final and finished the tournament, held in Vichy, without dropping a set.
Gould also returned from the world’s largest elite sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment (II), as world number one.
James, of Burpengary East, took silver in the Men’s Doubles II-1 with fellow Queenslander Archie Graham. The duo are now world ranked two.
Tim Gould picture gallery
There was also silver for James in the Men’s Team II-1 category; sixth in the Men’s Singles II-1, which is his world ranking and fifth in the Mixed Doubles.
It was James' fourth Global Games and the second for Gould. The Moreton Bay pair were part of an 11-strong Australian tennis team which won nine medals.
“Team Australia was challenged from the start, with several new players in the mix,” head coach Alison Scott said.
“The influx of new competitors is great for the level of play and shows that the PWII and autism pathway opportunities are being recognised worldwide.
“I’m very proud of our entire team, in particular our lead-in preparation surrounding values and culture, which stood out on and off the court.
Mitchell James picture gallery
Last year Gould won Singles gold at the Virtus European Summer Games in Poland. James brought home gold and two bronze medals from the mixed and men’s team Doubles.
Mitchell James started playing tennis at the age of five and his successes include the 2018 Special Olympics Australia National Games singles and doubles.
Gould received the 2021 Newcombe Medal after winning the II-2 Australia Open title.
Teams from more than 50 countries were at the Virtus Global Games for tennis, athletics, basketball, cycling, equestrian, futsal, handball, judo, karate, rowing, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo.
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