Double gold at the 2006 Games

This news segment from the Nine Network highlights some of the achievements of Australian female athletes at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Australia prides itself on its sporting prowess, which is often seen as the domain of male athletes and sportspeople. But often it's the women who bring home the medals.

This segment offers a wonderful contrast of the talented diversity of our medal-winning female athletes. The commentary and interviews bring home to the television audience the excitement of the synchronised diving combination of Briony 'Bree' Cole and Sharleen Stratton and the sheer power of Deborah Lovely winning in the women's 75 kg weightlifting.

The clip is a good example of how Australian television has always excelled at sports coverage. The short interviews with athletes, sometimes immediately after their victory, capture their spontaneous reaction to winning. The coverage also humanises the athletes and shows us a glimpse of the person behind the sporting-star persona.