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‘It’s so special’: The families behind Australia’s Commonwealth Games medal success

To suggest Luke Mathews and his family are close would be an understatement.

As he slowly made his way around the Carrara Stadium track after claiming bronze in the men's 800m final on Thursday night, Mathews came upon his parents and sister in the crowd.

His brother was not there, as he is in London, but modern technology meant the Mathews clan were still able to celebrate his remarkable performance of making the podium at his first Commonwealth Games.

External Link: Luke Mathews Instagram: "Sideline champions lounge with some champions #TeamAus #TeamMathews"

"I spent about two or three minutes with my sister and dad, and my mum was there and my brother was on FaceTime in London," said Mathews after he completed his lap of honour.

"So, we kind of got to enjoy that moment."

Mathews' family catch-up serves as an example of one of the common themes of the Gold Coast Games that performances on the track, in the pool or on the road are more than just about the athlete.

They are as much about the families and the sacrifices they have had to make for those competing at the Games.

Mathews' bronze medal has added significance for his family.

In the weeks leading up to last year's world championships in London, Mathews sensationally split with his coach Nic Bideau.

The 22-year-old, an emotional wreck at the time, somehow made the semi-finals of the 1500m and once the world titles had finished he chose to be coached by his mother Elizabeth, who had guided her son during his junior career.

Last night's display, where Mathews came home strongly from sixth with less than 100 metres left in the race to snare the bronze medal, showed the coach-athlete relationship is working nicely alongside their tight mother-and-son bond.

"Amongst all the tears and bloody emotion, she kind of got out 'I'm so proud of you'," Matthews said of the moment he caught up with his mother.

Stratton thanks her father for sharing 'the journey'

Long jumper Brooke Stratton flies through the air in competition

Brooke Stratton enjoyed a similarly touching moment with her father Russell soon after she was confirmed as the silver medallist in the women's long jump.

Russell Stratton, like Elizabeth Mathews, serves as parent and coach, and his warm embrace of his daughter, who was crying in his arms, left a collective lump in the throat of the Carrara Stadium crowd.

As much as the Strattons have enjoyed the highs during Brooke's career, they have also endured the lows.

In 2013 she was diagnosed with coeliac disease, which was greatly affecting her long jumping, and a year later she was forced to withdraw from Australia's Commonwealth Games squad for Glasgow because of a stress fracture in her back.

Injury struck again late last year when a stress fracture in her foot threatened to derail the Rio Olympian's preparation for the Gold Coast Games.

Stratton recovered and her perseverance paid off with a Commonwealth Games silver medal, but she acknowledged she would not have been able to cope without their love and support of her father.

"It's so special having my father as coach," Stratton said.

"We're a great team and we've made it work for all these years and it does make it a little bit more special to have him being my coach.

"It's great to share the journey with him."

Long jumper Brooke Stratton holds Australian flag behind her head to celebrate winning a silver medal

Stratton's reference to "journey" appropriately defines the role families play in an athlete's success.

And it was not surprising Mathews used the same description when he reflected on how much it meant to celebrate his bronze with his family.

"As everyone who has seen my journey the last nine months or so, it's been an absolute bloody roller coaster," Mathews said.

"So, to enjoy with those people who have been there since day one it's just awesome."

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