The Campbell sisters have helped Australia smash the record for most swimming golds at the Commonwealth Games, but it was Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s seeming ignorance of an unofficial Australian anthem that got everyone talking.

The locals dominated at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre on Tuesday, winning eight of a possible nine gold medals on an evening highlighted by triumphs in both the men’s and women’s 4×100 individual medley relays that sent a capacity crowd berserk.

It brought Australia’s total swimming tally to 28, the most won by any country at a single Games, and four more than the previous record set in 2002 and 1994.

Such was Australia’s success, there was a carnival-like feel to proceedings.

John Farnham’s You’re The Voice is quickly turning into the anthem of these Games and, late in the night, was passionately sung by a crowd drunk on gold.

But when television cameras turned to Turnbull, who was arm-in-arm and swaying with members of the swimming team, it appeared he did not know the words. A pub test failure for sure.

As if his polling isn’t bad enough already, Malcolm Turnbull was just caught on tv not singing along to You’re The Voice at a national sporting event. #auspol

— Courtney Baikaloff (@crtnybklff) April 10, 2018

Watching #CommonwealthGames tonight! Malcolm Turnbull is hanging with our amazing 🏅swim team🏅 but not singing along to "You're the Voice"?? Does he not know the words? 😂😂 #CommonwealthGames2018 #Swimming #raininggold

— Kate Morrissey (@katelmorrissey) April 10, 2018

There were so many brilliant stories dotted through a special night that started with a stirring rendition of True Blue from a poolside John Williamson.

There were another two gold medals for Mitch Larkin in the 200m individual medley final and then the IM relay, taking his haul to an incredible five for the meet, while 17-year-old Ariarne Titmus was not far behind as success in the women’s 400m freestyle final took her own haul to three.

“I was so nervous for this race. I’ve never felt nerves like this before … translating that to a four-minute swim is perfect,” Titmus told the Seven Network.

And while Titmus is the very bright future of Australian swimming, another star, Emily Seebohm, took to the pool for what is likely to be her final Commonwealth Games.

So it was fitting that Seebohm equalled Susie O’Neill’s Australian record of 15 Games medals, with wins in the women’s 50m backstroke and the IM relay helping her go out in style.

In both IM relays, Australia trailed going into the final 100m, but the selection gamble of including 100m freestyle champion Bronte Campbell ahead of big sister Cate to swim the crucial final leg paid off in spades as she mowed down Canada’s Taylor Ruck in a sizzling split of 51.57 seconds to win the women’s decider.

The script repeated in the men’s edition, as strong breaststroke and butterfly legs saw England have its nose in front of Australia.

Olympic 100m freestyle champion Kyle Chalmers seized the moment, though, hauling in Benjamin Proud as Australia won by just 0.09 seconds.

“This one is special … racing as a team is incredible,” Larkin said afterwards.

Other gold medallists in the pool for Australia on Tuesday were Lakeisha Patterson (women’s S8 50m freestyle), Brenden Hall (men’s S9 100m backstroke) and Jack McLoughlin (men’s 1500m freestyle).

Australia finished with 28 of a possible 50 gold medals in the pool.

No joy for Fearnley

He is one of Australia’s most inspirational athletes but three-time Paralympic gold medallist Kurt Fearnley was pipped in a thrilling finish to the men’s T54 1500m final at Carrara on Tuesday.

Fearnley spoke pre-Games about his likely retirement, meaning this was the last track event of his career (he still has the marathon to come).

Canadian Alexandre Dupont was too quick over the closing stages, winning in a time of three minutes and 11.75 seconds.

Fearnley was just 0.17 seconds behind to win a silver medal and said afterwards: “I wheeled I everything I had … it was just not quite enough.”

Madison de Rozario provided some Aussie gold on the track when she won the women’s T54 1500m final while Alexandra Hulley won a silver medal in the final of the women’s hammer throw.

Nicholas Hough impressed to win bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles while in two of the marquee track and field events, Botswana’s Isaac Makwala claimed gold in the men’s 400m final and South Africa’s Caster Semenya emerged victorious in the women’s 1500m decider.

More cycling success

After winning 10 track cycling gold medals, Australia started the road cycling events in style.

Both Katrin Garfoot and Cameron Meyer won gold in the women’s and men’s individual time trials respectively, with the former cruising to victory by almost a minute on Tuesday.