Australia’s cycling and swimming stars brightened up a day that will be forever remembered for Claire Tallent’s “heartbreaking” disqualification at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Leading the women’s 20km walk on the Gold Coast on Sunday with just over two kilometres remaining, Tallent – wife of two-time Olympic gold medallist Jared – broke down in a flood of tears after receiving a third red card, meaning she was disqualified for an infringement.

It made for incredibly tough viewing but Tallent’s class was on show when she was the first to congratulate 20-year-old teammate Jemima Montag for taking the gold medal.

Australia’s day improved significantly from there, with the host nation winning 11 gold medals thanks to strong performances in swimming (five) and track cycling (three).

Matthew Glaetzer’s gold in the men’s 1000m time trial headlined a wonderful night at the Anna Meares Velodrome, where Australia won three of a possible four events, while it was no surprise to see Cate Campbell win a third gold of the meet in the pool.

Montag’s success was one of two walking gold medals and Australia also won one in the shooting, helping it extend what is now a healthy lead atop the medal tally.

The redemption story

Glaetzer’s Games started with a gold in the men’s keirin on Friday but he was furious with himself just 24 hours later for trying to get through a preliminary round in the sprint with “minimum effort” and being knocked out by a Malaysian outsider.

He said afterwards his performance was “embarrassing, disappointing and shattering” but he came out with a point to prove in front of a boisterous crowd on Sunday.

The task ahead of him was a big one after New Zealand’s Edward Dawkins broke the one-minute barrier but Glaetzer, who was last out, bounced back from his disappointment in emphatic fashion to win in a time of 59.34 seconds, the fastest time ever recorded at sea level and a Commonwealth Games record.

The gold medals kept coming for Australia on the track with Amy Cure holding off Scotland’s Neah Evans in a thrilling finish to the women’s 10km scratch race.

And there was an Aussie one-two in the women’s kierin final as Stephanie Morton finished ahead of Kaarle McCulloch to win her third gold medal for the event.

Tallent’s heartbreak

In scenes reminiscent of Jane Saville’s disqualification at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Tallent, 36, was given a third red card despite being on the verge of victory.

The decision – delivered by an official who is also a family friend of Tallent – was made because of a rules breach and immediately reduced the athlete to tears.

“That is so hard to watch. That’s heartbreaking,” Seven Network commentator Tamsyn Lewis said.

“It’s just devastating footage.”

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Tallent, who gave birth less than a year ago and was hit by a car in January, but still managed to compete, said afterwards that she was desperate to win to show young mums could do anything.

“I wanted to show the world that, you know, women who have babies can do anything. They can come back,” she said.

“You don’t have to stop doing what you love because you’re having a baby.”

As a result of her disqualification, Montag walked on to victory but later she said she was “devastated” for Tallent.

In the men’s 20km walk, Dane Bird-Smith also won gold for Australia.

Swimming success continues

Cate Campbell added a third gold medal to her haul, leading an Aussie trifecta to win the women’s 50m butterfly in a time of 25.59 seconds, ahead of Holly Barratt and Madeline Groves.

It was also a clean sweep for Australia in the men’s 50m backstroke, won by Mitch Larkin (24.68secs), while Jesse Aungles and Lakeisha Patterson were victorious in the men’s SM8 200m individual medley final and the women’s S9 100m freestyle final respectively.

And the night finished with Australia victorious in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, as Alexander Graham, Kyle Chalmers, Elijah Winnington and Mack Horton combined for victory and a Games record.

Olympic 100m champion Chalmers was unable to win his pet event earlier in the evening, being made to settle for silver after finishing in a dead heat with South African Chad Le Clos. Scotland’s Duncan Scott won that event.

Chalmers later claimed he was suffering from a head cold.

“Not so much fatigue. I’ve got a bit of a head cold so that’s the biggest thing I’m dealing with but you can’t use that as an excuse either,” Chalmers said.

“I just wasn’t fast enough on the night. Anything can happen.”

Also winning silver in the pool was Benjamin Treffers (men’s 50m backstroke) and Blake Cochrane (men’s SM8 200m individual medley).

Elsewhere

Men’s 10m air rifle shooter Dane Simpson claimed gold for Australia on Sunday, while our netball team beat South Africa 60-38 and our women’s basketballers cruised past Canada 100-61.

Both of Australia’s beach volleyball teams won in straight sets, and the men’s hockey team were too powerful for Scotland, winning 6-1.