Lithgow export David Palmer OAM will be representing Australia in his sixth Commonwealth Games competing in squash.
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His excited parents Sylvia and John Palmer, who live in Lithgow, will be heading up to the Gold Coast to see Palmer in action.
The Games start with the opening ceremony on April 4 and run until April 15.
Palmer, who attended Lithgow Public and Lithgow High schools, has enjoyed an extraordinary international career.
He inherited his love of the game from his parents. His mum Syvlia was herself an Australian representative in the sport.
A former world number one, Palmer is also a four time British Open winner. He claimed the Super Series in 2002 and the Australian Open in 2008.
His Commonwealth Games success has also been extraordinary, taking two gold medals in Glasgow in 2014 in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles events.
He teamed up with Rachael Grinham to win the mixed doubles and backed it up in combination with Cameron Pilley for the men's doubles.
Palmer had previously won two silver medals, including an individual silver in 2006, and four bronze medals.
On the Gold Coast, 42-year-old Palmer will be teaming up with Aussie professional Zac Alexander.
Palmer is now based in Ithaca, New York, where he coaches at Cornell University, including coaching one of the world’s top players, Mohamed El Shorbagy.
Palmer has been playing on the professional squash circuit since he was 17. He has now retired from the professional circuit, continuing to compete in the veterans’ class.
He tells his parents this will be his final appearance at the Commonwealth Games, ending Games career spanning 16 years.
It will signal the end of an outstanding contribution by the Lithgow product.