It was a moment one teacher at a small public school on the NSW Far South Coast will never forget.
Thirty-five years ago, Paddy "Mr Macca" McAlpin suggested that 11-year-old James Reynolds might like to try his hand at lawn bowls.
Year 4 teacher, Paddy "Mr Macca" McAlpin introduced Reynolds to lawn bowls more than 30 years ago. (ABC South East NSW: Mikayla McGuirk-Scolaro)
Born with severe scoliosis, the proud owner of a freshly minted Commonwealth Games gold medal had spent much of his childhood in and out of hospital before undergoing surgery to fuse his spine when he was just 10.
"There was nothing he wouldn't give a go, and he just wanted to be like all the other kids and take a few risks and just enjoy himself," Mr McAlpin said.
"[Lawn bowls] suits him perfectly. He's very competitive and he's very clever, so it's a perfect game for him.
"It was something that he could do his whole life and make it as far as he wanted to."
Delgado and Reynolds won gold after defeating New Zealand in the Men's Para Pairs. (Supplied: Bowls Australia, Aidan Davis)
Reynolds and teammate Damien Delgado made it as far as Glasgow, where they claimed gold in para lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games.
The duo defeated New Zealand 8-1, 7-2 in the gold-medal pairs match, ending an undefeated campaign and securing their second Commonwealth Games medals.
A replay of the final taught some valuable life lessons that might not have otherwise been on the curriculum at Reynolds's old primary school, Pambula Public, where staff and students gathered to watch and cheer during their morning assembly.
Students cheered loudly as they watched a replay of the winning moment. (ABC South East NSW: Mikayla McGuirk-Scolaro)
"I'm just so proud that he's still going with it, and we just hope every kid can find a story out there and tell it with their own life," Mr McAlpin said.
"We are all so proud of how far James went, starting at Pambula Public School in year 4 and now chasing his dream," year 6 student Jaxon Madex said.
"It means a lot to the school and for Australia, I mean, he's representing our country on the other side of the world, and it must be scary."
Students created posters to celebrate the win by Reynolds and Delgado. (ABC South East NSW: Mikayla McGuirk-Scolaro)
Reynolds paid tribute to his family and supporters back home in an interview with Bowls Australia after winning the gold medal.
"It means everything — a lot of sacrifices, a lot of hard work individually and collectively and to get the ultimate outcome — we are so proud of ourselves," he said.
A successful career
Reynolds was just 15 years old when he won the NSW under-18 junior singles title.
He went on to claim bronze for Australia at his first Commonwealth Games in 2002, before representing the nation again in 2014 and winning gold in the men's para pairs with Delgado at the 2023 World Bowls Championships.
This marks Reynolds's third time representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games. (Supplied: Bowls Australia, Aidan Davis)
In June, he was named the 2026 Australian Institute of Sport's International Male Para Bowler of the Year.
Community support
Michael Wilks, a bowls development officer at Club Sapphire in Merimbula, played alongside Reynolds for 15 years, and now mentors junior players with him through the Bowls NSW Junior Committee.
Mr Wilks said there was a real buzz around the region.
"It was pretty hard not to be brought to tears," he said.
"I know what Jimmy's gone through to reach that goal of his."
Reynolds and Delgado became emotional as they celebrated their win. (Supplied: Bowls Australia, Aidan Davis)
Mr Wilks said the win would be savoured by the entire Far South Coast bowls community.
"He's probably the biggest bowls identity to ever come out of the area," he said.
"It's his association with all the clubs and the whole bowls community that makes it so special."
Reynolds and Delgado will now join Australian Jake Fehlberg as the only para bowlers to win gold at both the Commonwealth Games and the World Bowls Championships.
