Margaret River born and bred hockey player Aran Zalewski is riding high after a series of impressive performances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games saw him collect a gold medal alongside the Australian men’s hockey team.
The Australians defeated New Zealand 2-0 at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, maintaining their standing as the kings of the Commonwealth by securing their sixth men’s hockey gold from as many attempts.
Australia played in Pool A, defeating South Africa 4-0, Scotland 6-1, Canada 4-1 and New Zealand 2-1 in the preliminary rounds before playing England in the semi-final.
Australia were victorious in a nail biting 2-1 match, earning the right to play against New Zealand who defeated India 3-2 in their semi-final.
Zalewski played a key role during the games, playing strongly in the midfield, providing the link between defence and attack, prompting the commentators to refer to him as, ‘The A to Z of Australian hockey’, and ‘the boy from Margaret River’
Local hockey legend Zalewski played a key role during the games, playing strongly in the midfield, providing the link between defence and attack, prompting the commentators to refer to him as, ‘Aran Zalewski- the A to Z of Australian hockey’, and ‘the boy from Margaret River’.
Starting his hockey career in Margaret River, Zalewski first represented Australia in a game against India in Bunbury in 2011.
Following that debut, Zalewski has achieved many highlights throughout his hockey career, including a gold medal in the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands, and later a gold medal in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
In 2016 he won another gold medal in the London Champions Trophy and then represented Australia at the Rio Olympics.
Additionally, Zalewski plays for the Kalinga Lancers in the Indian Hockey League and played a season in the Dutch Hockey League in 2017.
Zalewski is always quick to let people know that he started his hockey career in Margaret River and often conducts coaching clinics for the Margaret River junior hockey players, as well as visiting local schools.
