![Australia's Chef de Mission Petria Thomas (r), wears a mask while watching swimming events. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS) Australia's Chef de Mission Petria Thomas (r), wears a mask while watching swimming events. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/eb382a75-f68a-49d5-9e29-44edc6b699c7.jpg/r0_0_800_600_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Some Australian athletes broke the team's COVID protocols, chef de mission Petria Thomas says.
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But Thomas is adamant Australia's hardline protocols at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham were vital to the team's success.
Australia departs Birmingham as the Commonwealth's medal table-toppers - 67 gold medals, 57 silver and 54 bronze.
Australian athletes and officials in Birmingham operated under the toughest COVID protocols of the 72 nations.
Masks were mandated indoors and out and athletes were banned from spectating at other sports.
But Thomas concedes both those measures were flouted by some team members.
"We certainly made it very clear to our team members what the expectations were around our COVID protocols," she said on Monday.
"But having said that, people are human, they make mistakes.
"... We're a team of 700 people and we are always going to get people who follow the rules better than others.
"We kept reminding our team members to do the right thing because the whole reason for mask wearing was for the collective good.
"And sometimes people tend to forget that.
"There were some people who didn't wear masks for various reasons at different times.
"But on the whole, we have done a pretty good job."
Australia's protocols were "above and beyond" those of the Birmingham organisers, she said.
"Had we not had some of these measures in place, I think we would have had athletes missing events, for sure," Thomas said.
"All the hard work and planning over the past few years has really paid dividends and it has allowed every single one our athletes, despite significant challenges, they have all been able to get to the starting line and perform.
"It was hard making those decisions around our COVID protocols but I have no doubt it has been a big benefit for our team from a performance perspective.
"And at the end of the day, that is what we were to do, make sure our athletes get to the starting line and perform at their best.
"And we have been able to achieve that."
Australian Associated Press