Lithgow’s acclaimed squash player, the 42-year-old David Palmer, has been inducted into NSW’s Commonwealth Games Hall of Fame.
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The induction into the NSW’s division of the Commonwealth Games Hall of Fame highlights his outstanding achievements at six Commonwealth Games; the most recent being his gold medal win at this year’s Games on the Gold Coast.
This is only the second round of inductions into the NSW Commonwealth Games Hall of Fame (the first was in 2014), and currently there are only eight athletes in the hall – including Lithgow’s Marjorie Jackson.
The entry describes Palmer as “Australia’s greatest ever male squash player”.
Palmer’s six Commonwealth Games make him the most prolific athlete in the hall, equal with sport shooter Phillip Adams.
Although officially retired in 2012, Palmer was once again called to arms to provide leadership and inspiration to the 2018 Commonwealth Games squash team on home soil.
“I love Australia and playing for my country, I am always available wherever I am needed to help grow squash,” Palmer said.
Palmer was partnered with 29-year-old Zac Alexander, the duo being the fifth seed for the men’s doubles.
But the pair defied that ranking as they lost just two games on their way to glory, defeating English duo Daryl Selby and Adrian Walker 11-9, 3-11, 11-6 in 57 minutes to be crowned Games champions.
It was Palmer’s third Commonwealth Games gold medal, and his ninth medal overall.
Palmer’s induction into the Hall of Fame was a quiet affair, done behind the scenes during the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast in April.
As the head coach of Cornell University’s Squash Program in New York, he said he hopes to explore opportunities for Australian junior squash players in the US.
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