Commonwealth Games 2018: Aussies surge to medal tally lead after incredible night
Two great mates set the tone for a night of Australia success. Photo: Getty
At 7.55pm (AEST) on Friday, Australia had won five gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
By 10.15pm, they had 14 as the golds came thick and fast, at a rate of better than one every 15 minutes.
Kyle Chalmers started a night to remember for Australia with a stunning victory in the men’s 200m freestyle so it was fitting that he also ended the gold rush, charging home in the final leg of the 4x100m freestyle relay that capped the night.
And while fans at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre sang the national anthem of Australia on six occasions, the success wasn’t limited to the pool, with cyclists Stephanie Morton and Matthew Glaetzer and weightlifter Tia-Clair Toomey also triumphing on a night when Australia surged to the top of the medal tally.
There is now clear daylight between Australia and main Games rival England (nine golds), with Canada, Scotland, India, South Africa and Malaysia all way back in the pack with two each.
Home fans singing in the rain
It rained throughout Friday’s swimming session but the local fans barely cared, such was Australia’s dominance.
A thrilling men’s 200m freestyle final set the tone as South African Chad Le Clos – who only 20 minutes earlier had won the 50m butterfly event – raced out to the lead at the halfway mark.
Chalmers was more than a second adrift of Le Clos at that point but surged back into contention before holding off compatriot Mack Horton to win in a time of one minute and 45.56 seconds.
“I knew that I had a fair bit to give in the last 50,” Olympic 100m champion Chalmers told the Seven Network.
“It’s awesome to get one-two with one of my greatest mates.”
Ellie Cole just missed out in the women’s S9 100m backstroke final but Timothy Disken made amends, winning the men’s S9 100m freestyle final, the first of five successive victories for Australia.
The Aussies filled the podium in the 100m butterfly. Photo: Getty
Clyde Lewis was so exhausted he could not speak in a television interview afterwards but held off Scot Mark Szaranek in the men’s 400m individual medley final before Mitch Larkin and Emma McKeon triumphed in the men’s 100m backstroke and women’s 100m butterfly events respectively.
McKeon’s victory was particularly memorable for the fact it was a one-two-three finish for Australia, with Madeline Groves winning silver and Brianna Throssell bronze.
And there was still time for another gold, with Chalmers finishing off the good work of his teammates to leave the crowd roaring with approval for one last time.
Cycling joy
Glaetzer’s gold medal was just as thrilling as Chalmers’ efforts, getting to the front of a six-man field in the final of the men’s keirin final and hanging on to pip Lewis Oliva of Wales by 0.035 seconds.
“The Aussie crowd just goes nuts,” an elated Glaetzer said afterwards.
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Morton was also successful, easily accounting for New Zealand’s Natasha Hansen in the women’s sprint final.
That win made up for Rebecca Wiasak’s heartbreak in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit decider, who lost to Scotland’s Katie Archibald in the final.
Small business owner strikes it gold, too
Toomey entered these Games dubbed ‘the fittest woman on the planet’ after winning last year’s Cross Fit Games world title.
The 24-year-old – who owns Gladstone Crossfit in central Queensland – won the women’s 58kg weightlifting title after lifting 87kg in the snatch and then 114kg in the clean and jerk.
Toomey’s success means Australia have their first Commonwealth Games gold medal in 12 years.
Our teams
Both of Australia’s basketball teams had big wins, the women thrashing Mozambique 113-53 while the men cruised to a 95-55 success against Canada.
Our netballers thrashed Barbados 79-24 and both the men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams posted straight-sets victories.
The news wasn’t as good for our mixed badminton team, who won one and lost one on Friday, while boxer Campbell Somerville beat Grenada’s Joshua Redhead in the men’s 75kg division as he moved a step closer to a medal.