THE Sunshine Coast has been home to some outstanding athletes over the years but the measure of greatness has long been the subject of debate.

Some argue Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals are the ultimate glory but others would point to the fact some sports aren't included in either Games, yet our local stars have achieved the ultimate in their fields.

And exactly who are "locals”. Do we claim athletes who have moved here to train or have relocated once their sporting careers are finished?

We'll let you be the judge.

Today we honour 57 Sunshine Coasters who have won medals in either Olympic or Commonwealth Games - from Jim Achurch in 1954 to members of the Australian team at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Some have won a swag of medals while others have just one but to us they are all "stars” in their own right.

Read on and enjoy.

Have we left anyone of the list? Let us know at editorial@scnews.com.au.

JIM ACHURCH

Javelin

Gold medal - 1954 Vancouver Empire Games

Nambour cane farmer Jim Achurch was the Sunshine Coast's first true Commonwealth Games champion.

Training in paddocks of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, he attended the 1954 Vancouver Empire Games (the forerunner of the Commonwealth Games) thanks to a massive community fundraising effort to pay his expenses.

He went onto win the gold for Australia and returned home to a hero's welcome. In 1981, Jim won silver in the javelin at the World Veterans Titles.

Jim also competed in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne but finished outside the medals.

MICHAEL ANDERSON

Swimming

Silver medal - 2008 Beijing Paralympics

Gold medal - 2012 London Paralympics

Bronze medal - 2012 London Paralympics

Michael made his international debut at the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne and went onto contest three events at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, winning a silver medal in the S10 men's 100 metre backstroke.

At the 2012 London Paralympics, he won gold in the S10 men's 4x100 metre freestyle relay and a bronze medal in the S10 men's 4x100 metre medley relay. He also participated in the S10 class of the men's 100 metre backstroke, 100 metre freestyle and 50 metre freestyle events.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, Michael competed in three events but finished out of the medals.

CAITLIN BASSETT

Netball

Gold medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

The Sunshine Coast Lightning star was captain of the Australian team which took the silver medal in the netball competition at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Prior to that, she was a member of the Australian team which won the gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

ALANA BOYD

Pole vault

Gold - 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

Gold - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Pole vaulter Alana won her maiden national pole vault crown in 2008, before a 4.30 metre clearance on Olympic debut at Beijing in 2008. She went onto win the Australian Athletics Championships gold medal in 2009, 2013 and 2015. A gold medal at the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games followed, before a bronze medal at the IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech (MAR). Boyd closed out her career in remarkable fashion leaping 4.80 metres to place fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

DENISE BOYD

Running

Gold medal - 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games

As Denise Robertson, she competed at international level for a decade from 11973, reaching Olympic finals in the 200 metres sprint at the 1976 Montreal Games and 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Denise won the gold medal in the event at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.

RAY BOYD

Pole vault

Gold medal - 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games

Long before his daughter Alana was a pole vaulting star, Ray was a leader in the sport.

He won 11 Australian Championships and competed in two Olympics and three Commonwealth Games from 1970 to 1982.

Ray ended his career on a high note with a gold medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.

RAELENE BOYLE

Athletics

Silver - 1968 Mexico Olympic Games

3 x gold - 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games

2 x silver - 1972 Munich Olympic Games

3 x gold - 1974 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games

1 x silver - 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games

Gold - 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games

Silver - 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games

A LEGEND in Australian sport who moved to the Sunshine Coast after her career came to an end, Raelene was selected to represent Australia at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

At just 17, she won a silver medal in the 200 metre sprint and placed fourth in the 100 metres.

Raelene then competed in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where she contributed to Australia's number one position on the medal tally with three gold medals, in the 100 metres and 200 metre sprints and the 4 x 100 metre relay.

At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, she collected more silver medals, in the 100 metre and 200 metre sprints and two years later she duplicated her results at the Edinburgh Games, winning three more gold medals in the same three events and breaking the Games record in the both 100 metres and 200 metres.

At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Raelene finished fourth in the final of the 100 metres but was disqualified from the 200 metre event after two false starts.

She was unable to replicate her previous Commonwealth success at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, winning only a silver medal in the 100 metre sprint before withdrawing from the 200 metre and relay due to injury.

Raelene was selected to compete in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow but eventually withdrew from the team after a long dispute within Australian sporting circles over whether to join the USA-led boycott of the Games.

Her final major competitive appearance was at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, where she won gold in the 400 metre sprint and silver in the 4 x 400 metre relay.

BRENDAN BURKETT

Swimming

Silver medal - 11988 Seoul Paralympics

Bronze medal - 1992 Barcelona Paralympics

Silver medal - 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games

Gold medal - 1996 Atlanta Paralympics

Silver medal - 1996 Atlanta Paralympics

Silver medal - 2000 Sydney Paralympics

Brendan first represented Australia at the 1987 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships, where he won a gold medal in the 100 metre butterfly.

At the 1988 Seoul Games, he won a silver medal in the men's A1-A8 4x50 metres freestyle relay.

At the 1992 Barcelona Games, he won a bronze medal in the Men's S9 50 metre freestyle S9.

He won a silver medal at the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games in the S9 men's 100 metre freestyle event.

At the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, he was the captain of the Australian Paralympic team and won a gold medal in the S9 men's 50 metres freestyle and silver in the S7-S10 men's 4x100 metres freestyle.

Brendan carried the Australian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Paralympics in which he won a silver medal in the men's 4x100 metre freestyle event.

BLAKE COCHRANE

Swimming

Silver medal - 2008 Beijing Paralympics

Bronze medal - 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

2 x gold medals - 2012 London Paralympics

Silver medal - 2016 Rio Paralympics

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Bronze medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

It was not until his selection by Swimming Australia as an AWD (Athlete With a Disability) team competitor in 2007 that Blake's potential was realised

Within a year, he had won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games in the Men's SB7 100 metre breaststroke.

In 2010 he won gold in the SB7 100 metre breaststroke at the World Championships, before snaring a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

At the 2012 London Paralympics, he competed in five events and won gold medals in the SB7 men's 100 metre breaststroke and men's 4x100 metre freestyle.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Blake won the silver medal in SB7 men's 100 metres breaststroke.

At the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games this year, he added a silver medal in the men's SM8 200 metres individual medley and a bronze in the bronze in the SB8 100 metre breaststroke final, swimming out of his regular SB7 classification.

ELLIE COLE

Swimming

Silver medal - 2008 Beijing Paralymics

2 x bronze medals - 2008 Beijing Paralympics

2 x bronze medals - 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

4 x gold medals - 2012 London Paralympics

2 x bronze medals - 2012 London Paralympics

2 x gold medals - 2016 Rio Paralympics

3 x silver medals - 2016 Rio Paralympics

Bronze medal - 2016 Rio Paralympics

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

A six-time Paralympic champion, Ellie is classified in the S9 category in swimming due to having a leg amputed.

She began competitive swimming in 2003 as part of her rehabilitation and after national and international success, qualified for the Australian Paralympic Swim Team in 2008, winning a silver medal at the Beijing Paralympics in the women's S9 100 metre butterfly event.

She also won bronze medals in the 400 metre freestyle and 100 metre S9 backstroke.

In 2010 she won bronze medals in the 100 metre freestyle S9 and 100 metre butterfly S9 events at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

At the 2012 London Paralympics, Ellie participated in eight events and won six medals - gold in the S9 100 metre backstroke and the gold medal in the S9 4x100 metre freestyle relay.

She took a bronze in the S9 400 metre freestyle, another bronze in the S9 50 metre freestyle and then gold in the S9 100 metre freestyle.

She capped off the Games, surprising even herself with a fourth gold medal in the S9 4x100 metre freestyle relay.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Ellie won two gold medals in the women's S9 100 metre backstroke and women's S9 4x100 metre freestyle relay; silver medals in the women's S9 50 metre freestyle, the S9 400 metre freestyle and the women's S9 4x100 metre medley relay.

She also won bronze in the women's S9 100 metre freestyle.

Last month on the Gold Coast, Ellie added a Commonwealth Games silver medal to her collection in the women's S9 100 metre backstroke and a bronze medal in the women's S9 100 metre freestyle.

KELSEY COTTRELL

Lawn bowls

Silver medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Gold medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Kelsey tasted success with a gold medal in the pairs competition at the 2012 World Outdoor Bowls Championship before grabbing a silver in the women's triples at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In 2016, she was part of the fours team which won the gold medal at the 2016 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Christchurch.

Just a few weeks ago, she stamped herself as one of the country's most successful lawn bowlers when she claimed another gold medal in the women's fours event at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

LISA CURRY

Swimming

Silver medal - 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games

3 x gold medals - 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games

Bronze medal - 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games

4 x gold medals - 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games

Silver medal - 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games

From 1977 to 1992, Lisa Curry represented Australia a total of 16 times, winning 15 national long course open titles and competing in World Championships in 1978 and 1982.

She tasted success in three Commonwealth Games.

The first, at Edmonton in 1978, saw her win a silver medal in the 4x100 metre medley relay.

Her most successful performance was at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games when she won gold medals in the 100 metre butterfly, 200 metre individual medley and 400 metre individual medley as well as a bronze in the 100 metre freestyle.

In Auckland, eight years later, Lisa won gold medals in the 100 metre butterfly, 50 metre freestyle, 4x100 metre freestyle relay and 4x100 metre medley relay).

She also won a silver medal in the 100 metre freestyle at Auckland.

Lisa also competed in Olympic Games at Moscow (1980), Los Angeles (1984) and Barcelona (1992).

CAMERON DE BURGH

Swimming

Silver - 1996 Atlanta Paralympics

2 x silver medals - 2000 Sydney Paralympics

Bronze medal - 2000 Sydney Paralympics

Cameron win his first Games medal at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics when he took silver in the S7-S10 men's 4x100 metre freestyle event.

At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, he won two silver medals in the S9 men's 100 metre freestyle and S9 men's 4x100 metre freestyle as well as a bronze medal in the men's 4x100 metre medley.

BRITTANY ELMSLIE

Swimming

Gold medal - 2012 London Olympic Games

2 x silver medals - 2012 London Olympic Games

Gold medal - 2016 Rio Olympic Games

Having finished third in the 100m freestyle and fourth in the 200 metre freestyle at the 2012 National Championships, Brittany booked her ticket to the 2012 London Olympics as a part of the relay teams in each event.

The 18-year-old came home with a gold and two silver medals (both as a heat swimmer) on her Olympic debut.

Brittany won a gold medal in the 4x100 metre relay alongside Alicia Coutts, Melanie Schlanger and Cate Campbell with the Australians breaking the Olympic record.

She then swam in the heats of the 4x200 metre freestyle relay and the 4x100 metre medley relay, receiving a silver medal when the Australian team finished second in the final.

Brittany added another medal to her collection at her second Games four years later in Rio when she was part of the quartet that claimed gold with a world record swim in the 4x100 metre freestyle relay.

REMY FAIRWEATHER

Swimming

Gold medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Remy's biggest victory at a senior international meet came at the age of 16, when she was part of Australia's 4x200 metre freestyle relay squad. Remy swam in the heats to earn Australia a berth in the final, where it won gold.

ASHLEA FEY

Hockey

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

The Hockeyroos defender starred for the Australian women's team during the 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign on the Gold Coast but was forced to settle for a silver medal after being humbled by a tough New Zealand outfit.

RICK FINCH

Boxing

Silver medal - 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games

Richard (Rick) Finch was the golden boy of Australian amateur boxing over a six-year period from 1980.

He fought his way to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where he finished out of the medals but then went onto win silver at the at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games.

While injury hampered the stylish light middleweight in the prime of his career he still managed to win the only two national championships he contested (1983 and 1985).

DANIEL FOX

Swimming

Silver medal - 2012 London Paralympics

Gold medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Silver medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Bronze medal - 2016 Rio Paralympics

Bronze medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Daniel began swimming competitively in 2009 as an 18-year-old and after several other international meets was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 London Paralympics, where he finished fourth in the S14 100 metre backstroke and silver in the S14 200 metre breastroke.

He won gold in the men's S14 200 metre freestyle at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after breaking the world record in the heats, following that with a silver medal in the S14 200 metres freestyle.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Daniel won the bronze medal in the men's S14 200 metres freestyle.

He then bagged bronze in the S14 200 metre freestyle at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

JEFF HARDY

Swimming

2 x gold medals - 1996 Atlanta Paralympics

Bronze medal - 1996 Atlanta Paralympics

Gold medal - 2000 Sydney Paralympics

At the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, Jeff won gold medals in the B2 men's 100 metre butterfly and B2 men's 400 metre freestyle and bronze in the B2 men's 200 metre medley.

In November 1997 he set a 1500 metre S12 world record then at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, he won a gold medal in the S12 men's 400 metre freestyle.

REGAN HARRISON

Swimming

Silver medal - 2000 Sydney Olympic Games

Regan made his international debut at the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, where he won silver in the 100 metre breaststroke and came fourth in the 200 metre breaststroke.

The following year he finished second at the Australian Championships, earning himself selection for the Sydney Olympics.

At the Olympics, he finished fourth in the 200 metre breaststroke, just 0.15 of a second slower than the bronze medal winner.

After Australia's only 100 metre breaststroker Phil Rogers put in a poor performance in the individual event, Australian head coach Don Talbot gambled on Regan to replace him, even though he was not originally selected in the 100 metre breaststroke.

Regan combined with Matt Welsh, Geoff Huegill and Michael Klim to claim silver behind the United States who broke the world record.

MARITA HIRD

Equestrian

Bronze medal - 2000 Sydney Paralympics

Marita was a professional jockey before a riding accident left her an incomplete quadraplegic.

After being encouraged to compete in dressage, she went onto win bronze in the mixed dressage - freestyle grade III event at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney.

She also represented Australia at the 2004 Athens Paralympics where she just missed out on a medal.

LEIGH HOWARD

Cycling

Gold medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

A member of the ACA Ride Sunshine Coast team which trains at the USC High Performance Centre, Leigh combined with Kellan O'Brien and Sam Welsford to win the gold medal in the 4000m team pursuit at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

NICOLE IRVING

Swimming

Silver medal - 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games

Nicole first competed for Australia at the 2002 FINA World Swimming Championships in Moscow and that same year won the silver medal in the women's 50 metre butterfly at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, finishing behind fellow Australian Petria Thomas.

MARAYKE JONKERS

Swimming

2 x bronze medals - 2004 Athens Paralympics

Silver medal - 2008 Beijing Paralympics

During her swimming career, Marayke broke more than 70 Australian national swimming records in the breaststroke, individual medley, freestyle and butterfly and set a world record for the 100 metre butterfly.

Marayke first represented Queensland at the age of 12 and at her first Paralympics in Sydney placed fourth and sixth.

At the 2004 Athens Paralympics, she won bronze medals in the SM14 women's 150 metre individual medley and SB3 women's 50 metre breaststroke.

At the 2008 Beijing Paralympics she was one of Australia's oldest swimmers and won a silver medal SM4 women's 150 metre individual medley.

JUSTIN KANE

Boxing

Gold medal - 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games

Justin "Sugar” Kane represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, losing in the quarter-final.

Two years later won gold in the men's bantamweight division at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

JULIE KEEGAN

Lawn bowls

Silver medal - 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

In 2008, Julie won the gold medal in the fours and silver medal in the triples at the 2008 World Championships.

Two years later she won a silver medal in the women's triples at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

She has won three medals at Asia Pacific Championships and played in moree than 100 test matches for Australia.

In 2011 Julie one of two finalists for Bowls Australia's Female Bowler of the Year award.

ANGELA KENNEDY

Swimming

Silver medal - 1996 Atlanta Olympics

Nambour-born Angela Kennedy had a brief Olympic career, winning a silver medal in the 4x100 metre medley relay at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

She combined with Helen Denman, Sarah Ryan and Nicole Stevenson to qualify Australia for the final of the event, before Susie O'Neill and Samantha Riley joined Stevenson and Ryan to take silver behind the United States.

GRANT KENNY

Kayaking

Bronze medal - 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

Grant first made headlines in life saving, winning several national iron man titles before turning his attention to kayaking in the mid-1980s.

He competed in two Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the K-2 1000 metres event with Barry Kelly at Los Angeles in 1984.

JODIE KENNY

Hockey

Gold medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

2014 was a big year for Jodie Kenny.

She was a member of the Australian women's hockey team that was defeated by the Netherlands in the final of the 2014 Women's Hockey World Cup.

But she went one better when the Australian team defeated England in the gold medal match at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, scoring a goal in the last minute of regular time to take the match into a penalty shoot-out.

She was a key part of the Hockeyroos' success in 2014, winning the Hockeyroos World Cup Player of the Year award, as well as the top scorer award with 29 goals.

She was the Hockeyroos' top scorer in 2014 and 2015 and the team's player of the year in 2015.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, she scored her 100th goal for Australia.

At the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games she had to settle for a silver medal after the Hockeyroos were humbled by a red-hot England team.

JAE KINGI

Basketball

Gold medal - 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games

Maroochydore's JaE Kingi was a member of the national basketball team roster from 1995-2006.

Pregnancy kept her out of the team for the 2004 Athens Olympics but two years later she collected her gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

In the domestic Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), Jai played 192 games for the Australian Institute of Sport and the Adelaide Lightning.

In 2001, she moved to the United States to play in the Women's National Basketball Association.

JOSH KROGH

Swimming

Bronze medal - 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games

Josh produced a storming finish to take third place in the final of the men's 200 metres butterfly at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

GEVA MENTOR

Netball

Bronze medal - 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games

Broonze medal - 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

Gold medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Geva may have been playing for England when she snared gold on the Gold Coast but she's a Sunshine Coast favourite when she leads the Lightning netball team in the national competition.

It was Geva's first Games gold after winning bronze medals at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

TAYLOR McKEOWN

Swimming

Gold medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Silver medal - 2016 Rio Olympic Games

Taylor won a gold medal in the 200 metre breaststroke at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and a silver medal in the 4x100 metre medley relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

At Rio, she also represented Australia in the 100 metres breaststroke, where she made the semi-finals, and the 200 metres breaststroke in which she qualified fastest for the final before finishing fifth.

The University of the Sunshine Coast swimmer made the final of the 200 metre breaststroke at the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, finishing fifth.

ALISON MOSELY

Wheelchair basketball

Silver medal - 2000 Sydney Paralympics

Silver medal - 2004 Athens Paralympics

Alison was a member of the silver medal winning Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics and four years later repeated that effort when the team took silver in the 2004 Athens Paralympics.

LEAH NEALE

Swimming

Silver medal - 2016 Rio Olympic Games

Gold medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Ipswich girl Leah trains with the USC Spartans club on the Sunshine Coast.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics she won a silver medal in the 4x200 metre freestyle relay.

She went one better in the same event at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, when the Australians set a Games record after Neale kept the team in the lead during her third stage of the relay final.

GLYNIS NUNN

Heptahlon/hurdles

Gold - Heptathlon, 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games

Gold - Heptathlon, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics

Bronze - Hurdles, 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games

Glynis was Australia's first Olympic heptathlete champion.

In 1978, long before she moved to the Sunshine Coast, she qualified for the Commonwealth Games pentathlon but could not compete because of an injury.

At the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games she upset the English favourite and took the gold medal.

She won gold in the heptathlon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she also placed fifth in the 100m hurdles event and seventh in the long jump.

After those Olympics, she switched to hurdling and won a bronze medal event at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games.

KELLAND O'BRIEN

Cycling

Gold medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

A member of the ACA Ride Sunshine Coast team which trains at the USC High Performance Centre, Kelland combined with Leigh Howard and Sam Welsford to win the gold medal in the 4000m team pursuit at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

JAKE PACKARD

Swimming

Gold medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Jake clocked a 51.36sec split to help the Australian team snare a gold in the final of the 4x100 metre medley relay at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The medal went with his two fourth placings from 50 metre and 100 metre events.

LAKEISHA PATTERSON

Swimming

Gold medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

2 x gold medal - 2016 Rio Paralympics

3 x silver medals - 2016 Rio Paralympics

2 x gold medals - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Lakeisha began swimming at the age of three as part of her rehabilitation to overcome muscle stiffness and is classified as an S8 swimmer.

At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, she won the bronze medal in the S8 women's 100 metre freestyle S8.

Two years later at the Rio Paralympics, she took gold in the S8 women's 400 metre freestyle, setting a new world record, Paralympic record and Oceania record.

She was also a member of the team that won the gold medal in the women's 4x100 metre freestyle relay and also claimed silver medals in the S8 women's 50 metres freestyle, S8 women's 100 metres freestyle and women's 4x100 metre medley relay.

Lakeisha continued to shine at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, winning gold in the S9 women's 100 metre freestyle and the S8 women's 50m freestyle.

EVANIA PELITE

Rugby Sevens

Gold medaal - 2016 Rio Olympic Games

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Caboolture product Evania won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics - the first time rugby sevens was contested at Olympic level.

She backed that up with a Commonwealth Games silver medal on the Gold Coast.

RICK PENDLETON

Swimming

Gold medal - 2004 Athens Paralympics

2 x gold medals - 2008 Beijing Paralympics

2 x bronze medals - 2012 London Paralympics

Rick won his first gold medal at the 2004 Athens Games in the 4x100 metre medley and four years later in Beijing won gold in the 4x100 metre medley and the SM10 200 metre individual medley.

He moved to the Sunshine Coast prior to the 2012 London Paralympics, where he won a bronze medal in the 4x100 metre medley relay and another bronze in the 200 metre individual medley.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, Rick competed in three events but finished out of the medals.

KEITH POOLE

Lawn bowls

Silver medal - 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games

Gold medal - 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games

Keith may have been one of Australia's greatest lawn bowlers.

He represented Australia while living on the Sunshine Coast in 169 international matches and Queensland in more than 500 games.

He won a silver medal as part of the fours teams at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch and two years later won another fours silver medal at the 1976 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Johannesburg.

He then skipped the men's fours to gold in the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.

Keith also won gold medals in triples at the 1984 Australian Games and the fours at the 1983 Pacific Games.

LOGAN POWELL

Swimming

Bronze medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Logan represented Australia in three events at the 2016 Rio Paralympics but failed to win a medal.

He had his moment on the podium at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games when he took the bronze medal in the S9 men's 100 metre backstroke.

DAVE POWER

Running

Bronze - 1960 Rome Olympic Games

2 x gold - 1958 Cardiff Commonwealth Games

2 x silver - 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games

DAVE was an Olympic bronze and Commonwealth gold medallist in long distance running.

He first represented Australia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics but it was four years later in Rome that he took bronze in the 10,000 metre event.

He also won gold in both the marathon and six-mile events at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and silver in the same distances at the 1962 Commonwealths in Perth.

After moving to the Sunshine Coast, Dave was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Noosa Triathlon.

He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1999.

ROSEMAREE RIXON

Lawns bowls

Bronze medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

With daughters Connie and Rebecca, Rosemaree represented Malta at the Gold Coast Games, combining with Melbourne's Sharon Callus to take the bronze medal in the women's fours competition.

CONNIE RIXON

Lawn bowls

Bronze medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Twenty-year-old Connie teamed up with her mum Rosemaree, younger sister Rebecca and Melbourne's Sharon Callus to represent Malta at the Gold Coast Games, taking the bronze medal in the women's fours event.

REBECCA RIXON

Lawn bowls

Bronze medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

At 17, Rebecca was the youngest member of the Malta team which won the bronze medal in women's fours at the Gold Coast Games.

She combined with her mother Rosemaree, older sister Connie and Melbourne's Sharon Callus to pull off the shock result.

TAYLAH ROBERTSON

Boxing

Bronze medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

As Australia's youngest ever women's boxing competitor, Taylah was one of seven competitors entered in the 51kg women's category at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and was guaranteed a medal after handed a first round bye in a random draw.

She ultimately took bronze after losing her only fight against an English opponent in a split decision.

CLINT ROBINSON

Kayaking

Gold medal - 1992 Barcelona Olympics

Bronze medal - 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games

Silver medal - 2004 Athens Olympics

Also a champion lifesaver, Clint Robinson competed in five Olympic Games, winning a complete set of medals.

He took gold in the K-1 1000 metre event at the 1992 Barcelona Games, bronze in the same event four years later in Atlanta and teamed with Nathan Baggaley to win a silver medal in the K-2 500m at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

At the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Clint won a gold, two silver and a bronze between 1991 and 1995.

In surf lifesaving, he won a place on the Australian teams of 1993, 1995 and 1999 and in 1999 surpassed Trevor Hendy's record of 23 national titles to become the most successful Australian surf lifesaver ever.

Regarded as the greatest surfcraft competitor in the history of surf lifesaving, Clint has won Australian titles in the ski and board races and also won the board rescue, board relay, double ski, ski relay and taplin relay.

MELANIE SCHLANGER

Swimming

Bronze medal - 2008 Beijing Olympics

Gold medal - 2008 Beijing Olympics

Bronze medal - 2012 London Olympics

Silver medals - 2012 London Olympics x2

Gold medal - 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Melanie Schlanger had her first taste of success as a member of the Australian 4x100 metre freestyle relay team that won gold at the 2007 World Championships.

The same year, she also broke a world record with Australia's short course 4x100 freestyle relay.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she swam the third leg in both the heats and the final of the 4x100 metre freestyle relay as Australia claimed the bronze medal.

She swam in the heats of the 4x200 metre freestyle relay and collected a gold when the first-choice quartet won the final in a world record time.

In 2012 at the London Olympic Games, Melanie anchored the 4x100metre freestyle relay team to overcome a late surge by the Netherlands to win the gold medal for Australia, the only gold medal for the Australian swimming team at the 2012 Games.

At the same Games she also won silver medals in the women's 4x200metre freestyle relay and women's 4 x 100metre medley relay.

In 2014, she broke a world record as a part of the gold medal-winning women's 4x100 metre freestyle relay.

LIAM SCHLUTER

Swimming

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

After finishing outside the medals in four events at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Liam won silver in the S14 200 men's metre freestyle at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

EMMA SYKES

Rugby Sevens

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

A rising star on the rugby sevens scene, Emma was a member of the Australian team that took second place to New Zealand on the Gold Coast.

RYAN TYACK

Archery

Bronze - 2016 Rio Olympics

Ryan Tyack won a gold medal at the 2006 Junior World Outdoor Target Championships in the male recurve cadet event and gold in the 2008 World Youth Archery Championships in the men's under 18 event before he was named in the Australian archery shadow Olympic squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

He won the individual competition at the 2014 World Indoor Archery Championships before going onto win a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

TIA-CLAIR TOOMEY

Weight-lifting

Gold medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Nambour-born Tia-Clair discoveered weight-lifting while training for crossfit and qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics after just 18 months of serious training

She competed in the women's 58kg event at Rio and finished 14th.

She the won the gold medal in the women's 58kg event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

TESSA WALLACE

Swimming

Silver - 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games

Tessa represented Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, her debut into major international meets.

In her only Commonwealth Games race, the 200 metre breaststroke, she qualified sixth fastest for the final but turned in a solid swim in the final to win the silver medal behind team mate Leisel Jones.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Tessa advanced to the semi-finals of the women's 200 metre breaststroke.

SAM WELLSFORD

Cycling

2 x gold medals - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

A member of the ACA Ride Sunshine Coast team which trains at the USC High Performance Centre, Sam combined with Kellan O'Brien and Leigh Howard to win the gold medal in the 4000m team pursuit at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Sam also won gold in the men's scratch race at the Gold Coast Games.

STEPHANIE WOOD

Netball

Silver medal - 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

A leading member of the Sunshine Coast Lightning netball team, Stephanie joined team mate Caitlin Bassett in taking a silver medal on the Gold Coast, going down narrowly to England in the gold medal match.