Swimming superhero Ariane Titmus has led Australia to a new 4x200m freestyle relay world record as the team’s golden run at the Commonwealth Games pool continued with 10 more medals in Birmingham.
On Monday morning (AEST) Titmus, the Olympic 200m champion, anchored the team of Madison Wilson, Kiah Melverton and Mollie O’Callaghan home to better China’s landmark time of last year, clocking seven minutes 39.29 seconds, shading China’s mark of 7:40.33 in Tokyo.
Australia’s record-breaking relay team celebrates gold.Credit:Getty Images
The blistering relay effort topped a historic night for the Dolphins, as Emma McKeon won her 11th gold medal to become the most successful athlete in Commonwealth Games history by winning the 50m freestyle. She moved ahead of the previous record for most Commonwealth golds – 10 – held jointly by Australian swimmers Susie O’Neill, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones.
Having completed the fastest women’s 200m freestyle split in history of 1:52.82 seconds to break the world record, Tasmanian turned Queenslander Titmus said after the race that she had no idea she’d gone so fast.
“I actually felt like I was going a bit slow. On the way back, I was passing the other girls and I felt a bit of a wash and I didn’t really know how fast I was going. But the crowd definitely helped,” she said.
“We don’t really think about records as such, I’m glad that I could really, you know, do my job for the team. I’m just so happy that we’re here doing this.”
After the halfway point of the Birmingham competition, Australia’s swim team has 11 golds, nine silver and 12 bronze.
Golden Games: Emma McKeon.Credit:Getty Images
McKeon has featured in three of the golds – two relays and the 50m freestyle triumph that elevated her name into the record books.
And amid two days of controversy, Kyle Chalmers earlier reminded the swimming world of his raw talent by breaking the Games record in the 100m freestyle semi-final in 47.36 seconds.
He will swim for his third gold medal of these Games in Tuesday morning’s final, having conceded the stress that followed allegations he refused to congratulate McKeon, a former love interest who now dates teammate Cody Simpson, for her role in a mixed relay win at the weekend, had taken its toll.
“I don’t have anything else to say, it’s rough. It’s been a whirlwind. It’s nice to swim fast,” Chalmers told Channel Seven following his swim.
“I think it’s easy to put on a brave face and smile. It’s hard, it’s very hard.”
Women’s 100m backstroke world record holder Kaylee McKeown won her pet event to join the relay team and McKeon with gold medals, but she signalled she would not push herself for more medals if her body was not right.
McKeown said she had been carried a shoulder injury into the competition and despite her victory she could not guarantee she would be able to complete her full program, including the 200m event and medley relay.
Kaylee McKeown took gold in the 100m backstroke final.Credit:AP
“We’re going to see how we come up in tomorrow morning and see what happens,” she said. “The best I can do is, you know, swim and see what happens. There’s no pressure, it’s fun, this is the Comm Games. And I think that’s exactly the way to race it.”
Zac Stubblety-Cook and Sam Williamson claimed silver and bronze respectively in the men’s 100m breaststroke, both finishing ahead of British world record holder Adam Peaty after English swimmer James Wilby shattered his teammate’s hold on the title.
Meg Harris (silver) and Shayna Jack (bronze) followed McKeon in the women’s 50m freestyle, while Jenna Strauch (women’s 200m breaststroke) and Tim Hodge (men’s 100m breaststroke S8) secured silvers. Blake Cochrane also took out bronze in the S8 event.
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