A COMMONWEALTH Games gold medal is in the sights of a Margaret River hockey star, less than a month after he was part of Australia's World Cup winning side.
Aran Zalewski, 23, grew up playing hockey in Margaret River and will compete in his first Commonwealth Games after being chosen as part of a 16-man Kookaburras squad to play in the tournament in Glasgow next month.
The Kookaburras will be looking to defend the titles won four years ago and continue their incredible success in the event.
The Australian men's side has won all four gold medals in the sport since it was added to the Commonwealth Games program in 1998.
Margaret River Primary School teacher Mark Harrison, who coached Zalewski as a junior hockey player, said he was a quiet boy but always competitive and strong.
"Everyone knew he was going to make it, we knew he was special," Mr Harrison said.
From Zalewski's early days in Margaret River, on to Busselton and then to the WA Institute of Sport, he always showed promise as an elite sportsman.
"He played his first game for Australia in Bunbury against India, and he scored a goal in that game, which was a massive achievement," Mr Harrison said.
