Chalmers inspires Oz gold rush
GOLD COAST: Kyle Chalmers led an Aussie one-two in the 200m freestyle and anchored an emphatic relay win as the hosts grabbed a stunning five gold medals in the Commonwealth Games pool on Friday.
Chalmers, the Olympic 100m freestyle champion, made a trademark last-lap surge to take 200m gold in a personal best of one minute 45.56 seconds, the second fastest time in the world this year.
Chalmers then claimed his second Commonwealth gold in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay victory as Australia dominated the second evening, with sprint queen Cate Campbell again in record-breaking form on the Gold Coast.
Campbell, who anchored Australia to a world record as they won the 4x100m freestyle relay on Thursday, broke the Games mark with 23.88 seconds in her 50m freestyle semifinal.
She was under world record pace for most of the one-length race before finishing just 0.21sec outside Swede Sarah Sjostrom’s world record of 23.67sec.
“It’s been fantastic, really good. All the guys are swimming out of their skin really,” Australia’s head coach Jacco Verhaeren said.
AUSSIE CYCLISTS HIT 100
BRISBANE: Australia, resurgent after a disappointing Rio Olympics, sealed a fourth track cycling gold when Stephanie Morton eased to victory in a onesided women’s sprint final.
She defeated Natasha Hansen, a New Zealander. It was Australia’s 100th Commonwealth cycling gold and further proof that the failure to win a single gold in Rio two years ago is behind them.
ATHLETE CRITICAL
A Commonwealth Games athlete is in serious condition at a Gold Coast hospital after being diagnosed with malaria. The 23-year-old, who has not been identified, is under close observation at Gold Coast University Hospital after being admitted on Thursday with the mosquitoborne disease.
“The patient received immediate treatment for malaria on arrival at GCUH,” a statement said.