COMM GAMES SWIMMING: Australian sprinters James Magnussen, Cameron McEvoy and Tommaso D’Orsogna have produced a clean sweep of the men’s 100m freestyle at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, with Australian swimmers picking up a total of four gold and 11 medals in all on night four.
Not since Brisbane in 1982 had the green and gold taken out the treble in the blue riband event at the Games and if Neil Brooks, Greg Fasala, and Michael Delany had been watching on from the stands they would have witnessed a swim team full of fight, vigour and passion for the gold cap.
Coming into the final of the men’s 100m freestyle as the world champion, yet self-appointed underdog, James Magnussen proved too strong for his teammates in McEvoy (48.34) and D’Orsogna (49.04) winning in 48.11, and racing the man, not the clock.
“For me it was a race in two tonight, and I just had to let Cam lead at the 50 and then be ahead with 25 to go before I could start to real him in,” said Magnussen.
“For me tonight was about winning the race, but to be on the podium with two other Aussies and two of my mates was such a good feeling and a real bonus.”
Starting with a gold medal to Belinda Hocking in the women’s 200m backstroke in 2:07.24 , and finishing with gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay to Cameron McEvoy, David McKeon, Ned McKendry and Thomas Fraser-Holmes, our swimmers have now won a total of 38 medals in Glasgow – including 15 gold, 13 silver, 10 bronze (Olympic, non-Olympic and Para-sport events).
For Hocking, a dual Olympian from Beijing and London, gold in the 200m backstroke was one step further from last year’s silver at the world championships, while teammate Emily Seebohm added to her own tally to finish second in 2:08.51.
A member of the Australian Swim Team since Beijing in 2008, the 23-year-old Hocking said she was thrilled to add a major gold medal to her trophy cabinet.
“To win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games is just so special, especially after winning silver a couple of times over the last few years,” said Hocking.
It has been a week of family ties in Glasgow and when Canberra’s Ben Treffers won gold in the 50m backstroke he proudly followed in his father Mark’s footsteps.
A dual Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist with New Zealand, Treffers senior was on hand to see 22-year-old Ben secure his first gold medal at a major event winning in 24.67, ahead of Mitch Larkin for silver in 24.80 and Josh Beaver fifth in 25.19.
The fourth and final gold of the night went to Australia’s relay team of McEvoy, McKeon, McKendry and Fraser-Holmes who powered home in the 4x200m free to secure a Games record and the win in 7:07.38 ahead of Scotland and South Africa.
Having now dropped more than five seconds off her personal best time this year, Madeleine Scott won silver in the women’s para sport 100m breaststroke final with Kat Downie finishing sixth overall.
A West Australian originally, Scott is currently based at the National Training Centre in Canberra and said her new environment and training routine is paying dividends.
“I’ve worked really hard on my strength since joining the Para program at the AIS and I’m just really happy to have been able to produce another PB here in Glasgow,” said Scott.
Alicia Coutts picked up her first individual medal of the meet winning silver in the women’s 200m IM in 2:10.30 while Emily Seebohm finished seventh overall in 2:14.91. She spoke of her battle with a virus that has impacted her campaign.
Fellow Olympic gold medallist Brittany Elmslie rounded out the bronze medals picking up third in the 50m fly in a time of 25.91, with Coutts seventh overall in 26.52.
In other events…
Women’s 100m Freestyle
Just as the Australian men did the night before, the 100m freestyle women will go into the final ranked first, second and third with a real chance for a further clean sweep of the podium. World Champion Cate Campbell will be the one to beat with a semi-final time of 53.19. But Cate will have younger sister Bronte hot on her heels after qualifying second fastest in 53.67 and with four medals from the meet so far Emma McKeon (53.92) will be looking to add to her medal haul. Also keep an eye on fifth fastest qualifier Fran Halsall (54.88) who could spoil Australia’s domination in the final.
Men’s 50m Breaststroke (non-Olympic)
World Championship silver medallist Christian Sprenger will be searching for his first medal of the meet in the final of the men’s 50m breaststroke after qualifying third fastest in a time of 27.11. Sprenger, who missed out on the final of his pet event the 100m breaststroke, will be hoping his shoulder can hold out for the one lap dash while Kenneth To finished in 14th place with a time of 29.33.
Men’s 100m Butterfly
All three Australians will move through to the final of the men’s 100m butterfly tomorrow after posting impressive semi-final times. Chris Wright will progress in fourth place with a time of 52.58 and will be joined by bronze medallist from the 100m freestyle Tommaso D’Orsogna in 52.74 and Jayden Hadler in 53.12.
Women’s 100m Breaststroke
Australian Swim Team debutant Lorna Tonks will be racing for the chance to pick up her first Commonwealth Games medal tomorrow in the women’s 100m breaststroke final. Tonks hit the wall in 1:07.65 and will move through as third fastest qualifier with both Sally Hunter (1:07.97) and Leiston Pickett (1:08.83) joining her as they swim for gold.
Swimming Australia
