The 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will bring together icons and icons-in-the-making for the collective pursuit of athletic glory. Standing tall amongst them will be Peter Bol, his sights fixed unwaveringly on securing victory in the Games’ 800 metres. Arrival at the starting line will mark the culmination of a long journey for Australia’s talented middle-distance runner; from fleeing the Sudanese civil war at the age of 10 with his family to finding his gift for athletics while attending St Norbert College in Perth, he’s walked a unique path to realise his dream of becoming one of the greatest runners in the world.
Image: Longines – Peter Bol
Already Australia’s national record holder for the 800 metres, Bol’s performance at the Commonwealth Games will be measured by the official timekeeper, Longines, which has occupied the prestigious role for 60 years. In 2022, the watchmaker has doubled down, selecting Bol as one of three athletes to make up its Commonwealth Games Team.
In a curious twist, Longines’ partnership with the Games commenced in 1962, when the event was held in Bol’s hometown of Perth. Whether or not this quirk of history bodes well for Bol’s success remains to be seen, but both Bol and Longines share a commitment to the pursuit of excellence that will be fully visible on the track in a few weeks’ time.
Image: Longines HydroConquest XXII Commonwealth Games
Icons-To-Be
As a competitor, Bol wears his heart on his sleeve, but the true measure of an athlete’s excellence can be seen on his wrist, in the form of Longines’ striking special edition HydroConquest XXII Commonwealth Games. As much an icon-in-the-making as the man who wears it, this timepiece is limited to just 2,022 units and features meticulous Birmingham-themed details and an exclusive movement.
The watch boldly displays the Birmingham Games’ signature green, blue and yellow colours, which pop against the black backdrop of its ceramic bezel, and then again on the minute track of its black sunray dial. Within its 41mm steel case sits an exclusive self-winding movement with a silicon balance spring for improved precision and endurance. Plus, the Birmingham 2022 logo and a limited-edition number are engraved upon the case’s back in celebration of an event Bol is unlikely to ever forget.
Further, the timepiece offers water-resistance to 300 metres, a unidirectional rotating bezel, as well as a screw-down crown and case back, and a double security folding steel clasp with an integrated diving extension piece. Plus, with its exclusive new movement, Longines has been able to back this latest timepiece with a five-year warranty, so like Bol it will keep running and running and running.
Image: Longines Peter Bol
An Elite Trio
Joining Bol to round out Longines’ 2022 Commonwealth Games Team are fellow middle-distance runner Josh Kerr, who hails from Scotland and took home bronze in Tokyo for the 1,500 metres, and Alice Kinsella, an English artistic gymnast and the first British woman to win gold on the beam apparatus at the European championships.
Like Bol, these are athletes to watch over the coming years as they push themselves to be better and then even better still. Together, they embody that unwavering drive to reach ever higher levels of performance that has been at the core of Longines philosophy since the brand was established in 1832. And with the Commonwealth Games almost upon us, one thing is certainly clear: whether we’re considering the performance of these athletes in Birmingham and beyond or Longines’ skill and craftsmanship as represented by the timepieces they proudly wear, the best is yet to come.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will run from July 28 to August 8. To help you ensure you don’t miss one second of the action, check out the Longines HydroConquest XXII Commonwealth Games.
Image: Longines HydroConquest XXII Commonwealth Games
Image: Longines HydroConquest XXII Commonwealth Games
