Cody Simpson’s impressive swim in the semi-finals of the men’s 100m butterfly may not have been what Emma McKeon needed before she was about to go out and make history.
The singer turned swimmer moved through to the end of the 100m butterfly, continuing his remarkable return to swimming — as well as giving McKeon a scare in the process.
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The 25-year-old will join countryman Matt Temple in the decider after qualifying fifth-fastest for the race, scheduled for Wednesday morning (AEST).
Simpson was sluggish out of the blocks in his semi-final but found his groove to be second at the turn. It looked like he was in danger of being hunted down at death but he held on to finish third with a time of 52.16 seconds.
Heading into these Commonwealth Games it was Simpson’s ambition to make an individual final, and he has done just that – but will be hoping to go even further.
“Pretty wild, pretty special. That was my goal to make sure I got into the final – just relieved that I am,” he told Channel 7 on the pooldeck.
McKeon appeared to be just as relieved.
Asked how Simpson was handling things after she won a historic 12th gold medal in the 50m butterfly, McKeon revealed her heart was racing when watching Simpson race, half an hour before she walked out onto the pooldeck for her event.
“I was very excited for him,” she told Channel 7.
“I get that when watching him and other people that are close to me, more than I do for my own races. I am excited to watch him tomorrow night.”
Simpson revealed earlier it has been hard for him watching McKeon as well this week — even though she has delivered a golden avalanche in the Birmingham pool, breaking the record for the most gold medals ever won at the Commonwealth Games.
Simpson had missed the previous two previous night sessions when McKeon won gold medals because he had been back at his room preparing for his next event.
However, he was there with the rest of the Aussie team cheering her on as she collected her gold medal on Tuesday morning.
“I was watching her back at the Village, 50m free, it was hard because I was trying not to get excited because I had to keep something in the tank for my morning,” he said.
“It is hard, you want to stay focused but you want to be absolutely supportive of her too.
“I feel like every time I look over, she is racing. Ella she has a harder job than I do but she is handling it awesome. ”
Simpson won a gold medal earlier in the Games after an impressive performance in the heats of the 4x100m freestyle relay, which Australia went on to win in a Commonwealth Games record in the final.
Although he wasn’t part of the team in the final, Simpson still takes home a gold medal because he participated in the heats.
In the 100m butterfly heats on Monday night (AEST), Simpson made the surprising comment that he had been able to take it easy in the heats on the way through to the semi-finals.
“I was quite calm,” he told Channel 7.
“Knew I had to get through the next round, tick the box off, try to swim it as comfortably as I could without spending too much for tonight. Quite happy with it.”
Kyle Chalmers was scheduled to swim in the 100m butterfly, but revealed on Monday night he was pulling out to focus on his 100m freestyle final – which he won on Tuesday morning.
Chalmers’ decision to add butterfly to his program at this year’s national championships caused a stir, as it forced Simpson out of the Australian team for the world championships in Budapest.
There were suggestions at the time Chalmers’ butterfly move was sparked by Simpson’s relationship with Emma McKeon, but the Rio Olympic gold medalist fiercely denied that.
Death, taxes and Dean Boxall providing box office reactions when Ariarne Titmus is in the pool.
The legendary coach endeared himself to the Australian public during the Tokyo Olympics last year when Titmus took home the gold medal in the women’s 400m freestyle.
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The best ever – McKeon wins 11th Gold | 00:24
As Titmus raced home and touched the wall first, Boxall channeled his inner ‘Ultimate Warrior’ from WWE and frightened a poor Tokyo official who had no idea what to do to keep Boxall in check.
And Boxall was back at it again at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, albeit nowhere near as wild as the Tokyo celebrations.
Boxall was watching the Australian’s women’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay in which Titmus was competing alongside Madi Wilson, Mollie O’Callaghan and Kiah Melverton as Emma McKeon did not take part in the event.
MORE COVERAGE
Day 3 Wrap: ‘Extraordinary’ Aussies break world record, McKeon makes history
Medal Tally: Aussie gold rush continues as Women’s 7s erase Tokyo pain
‘Oh my goodness’: World record holder’s ‘shock’ result in ‘unbelievable’ boilover
Hang it in The Louvre. Picture: Channel 7Source: Channel 7There’s nothing quite like a Dean Boxall embrace. Picture: Channel 7Source: Channel 7
With Titmus winning the gold medal in the 200m individual freestyle event, the Aussies were always set to be a red-hot favorite going into the event.
Unsurprisingly, the girls in gold swimming caps delivered in spades as they set a time of 7:39:29, 12 seconds ahead of second-placed Canada while host nation England took home the bronze medal.
It was Titmus’ anchor split in particular that had Boxall going bonkers.
Titmus clocked 1:52:82 in a blistering spell that is also the fastest 200m freestyle relay split of all time.
It also helped Australia set a new world record for the event to truly assert their dominance.
Boxall, along with several others on social media, were left with their mouth agape at what had transpired.
LIVE: Emma McKeon has cruised into another final as the Australian swim sensation continues her assault on the history books on Day Four of the Commonwealth Games.
On Day 3, McKeon broke the Commonwealth Games record with a stunning 11th career gold medal, and her meet isn’t finished yet with more medals still up for grabs.
In the swim finals scheduled for Tuesday morning (AEST), McKeon heads a raft of Australians including Kyle Chalmers, who withdrew from one event to prioritize the massive 100m freestyle final.
Follow all the action from Day Four at the Commonwealth Games in our LIVE BLOG below! See the full schedule at the bottom.
Medal Tally: Aussie gold rush continues as Women’s 7s erase Tokyo pain
McKeon was back in the pool – and is now back in another ending.Source: Getty Images
McKeon once again hit the pool on Day Four in the women’s 100m freestyle heats, with fellow Aussies Shayna Jack and Mollie O’Callaghan also successfully qualifying for the semi-finals.
O’Callaghan qualified first in 54.28s, ahead of Jackthird in a comfortable 54.28s.
“I was definitely trying to hold back,” Jack said after her race.
McKeon only managed third-fastest in her heat and sixth-fastest overall as she cruised to the finish in 55.36s.
The 28-year-old won the same event at the Tokyo Games last year and is a massive chance of doing the same in Birmingham.
Read more on the rest of the swimming results below, or skip to the morning finals’ schedule at bottom.
ALL-TIME COMEBACK FALLS JUST SHORT
Australia’s men’s triples lawn bowls team came within an inch of pulling off one of the all-time great comebacks only to fall just short in a gold medal heartbreak.
Barry Lester, Carl Healey and Ben Twist – all sporting brilliant gold-dyed haircuts – were down by as many as 12-1 to England’s team of Louis Ridout, Nick Brett and Jamie Chestney.
But the Aussies charged back into the fight as the home side began to fall apart, with Australia snagging four in the 12th end en route to tying the scores up at 12 apiece.
England didn’t score from the ninth end until the 16th, but claimed a single on that second-last leg and then did the same on the last leg – after Australia missed a host of chances at the death.
DIAMONDS DEMOLISH SA… BUT COP BIG BLOW
In easily their toughest test of the Commonwealth Games so far, the gold-medal-favorite Diamonds went up a gear to defeat South Africa 74-49.
From the start, the Diamonds were in fine form, shooting with outstanding accuracy and harrying the South Africans all over the court with exceptional pressure.
Australia is undefeated after three Pool A games. They play Wales tomorrow before a huge match with more-than-dark-horses Jamaica.
But a calf injury to Paige Hadley, who had played just 15 minutes in the second game after missing the opener, looms as a potentially defining moment in their campaign.
FULL STORY.
Diamonds’ dream run soured as star sidelined with calf injury
Kyle Bruce nearly claimed an incredible gold medal with this lift.Source: Channel 7
AUSSIE ROBBED IN WILD HEARTBREAK
Kyle Bruce has been controversially robbed of a gold medal in the men’s 81kg weightlifting after a heartbreaking judges’ decision.
23-year-old Bruce was a gifted rugby flanker who only entered the gym to improve his ability on the field, before swapping to weightlifting full time and going on to claim a silver medal four years ago.
This time around, I have finished second in the snatch portion of the competition by lifting 143kg before twice failing to lift 147kg.
He successfully lifted 180kg in the clean-and-jerk portion for a stunning total of 323kg which had him in a second. Then, with the gold medal on the line, he attempted to lift 183kg on his final attempt.
He struggled with the lift and was wobbling, but was initially given three green lights from the judges to indicate a successful lift… only to have it overturned almost immediately afterwards by the jury, who spotted a small movement of Bruce’s left elbow.
That relegated him to a silver medal, behind England’s Chris Murray in a Games Record 325kg total.
He said: “It got overruled for a press-out. I haven’t seen the video so I’m not sure. But sometimes this is how sport goes and you know, congratulations to Chris on winning it
“He was the good lifter on the day and I just got a bit unlucky there, but it is what it is, I’m humble in defeat and I’m happy.”
He adds: “Coming away with a silver, not gonna lie, is quite disappointing… I’ll be ready for 2026. I’ll come back and I’ll have some redemption.”
FULL STORY: ‘Devastated’ Aussie in tears after gold ‘stolen away’
Meanwhile, Sarah Maureen Cochrane competes in the women’s 64kg final at 11pm AEST.
Resilient Chalmers sets Games record | 00:27
CHALMERS WITHDRAWS AS AUSSIES SURGE INTO MORE FINALS
Kyle Chalmer has withdrawn from the 100m butterfly so that he can focus on his 100m freestyle final in the evening session.
His scintillating semi-final swim last night (local) has him the firm favorite to claim gold in his favored event, and it’s no surprise he’s going all-in.
Teammate Cody Simpson qualified fifth for the semi-finals in 52.47s, just behind fourth-placed Matt Temple, the Australian record holder touching in 52.28s.
“It’s a great heat swim for him,” Ian Thorpe declared on Channel 7 of Temple.
Simpson has already won a gold medal for his involvement in the first heat of the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay, although he did not swim in the final.
FULL STORY: Legends not surprised as Chalmers pulls out of event at last minute
Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers won his 100m freestyle semi final. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Meanwhile, Kaylee McKeown qualified fastest for the 200m backstroke final (2:10.95s), with fellow Aussie minna atherton also making it through in third (2:11.38s)
McKeown won the event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the recent 2022 World Championships in Budapest.
She also reached the final of the women’s 200m individual medley, qualifying behind Abbey Harkin in equal fourth with 2:13.24 and Ella Ramsay in km in 2:14.03. McKeown was seventh in 2:14.23s.
All three Aussies also qualified for the Women’s 100m Breaststroke semi-finals: Chelsea Hodge fourth in 1:07.68, Jenna Strauch fifth in 1:07.80, and Abbey Harkin sixth in 1:07.85.
debutante Grayson Bell qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s 50m breastroke in fifth after winning his heat in a personal best 27.63s. Sam Williamson won his own heat in 27.20s to qualify third-fastest. Joshua Young also qualified with his 27.96s.
Recent world championships silver medalist Lani Pallister qualified first for the final of the women’s 800m freestyle with a strong 8:32.67s. Ariarne Titmus qualified second-fastest with a very measured 8:36.17. Kiah Melverton was fourth-fastest in 8:40.29. Could we see another podium sweep?
MORE COVERAGE
Day 3 Wrap: ‘Extraordinary’ Aussies break world record, McKeon makes history
‘It is shocking’: Thorpe stunned as England world record holder toppled in ‘unbelievable’ boilover
AUSSIES SET TO RACK UP LAWN BOWLS MEDALS
Australia’s day has started in sensational style in the Lawn Bowls, with three teams all winning their semi-finals.
Carl HealeyBarrie Lester and Ben Twist are into the men’s treble final (9pm AEST) after beating Fiji 26 – 13. They will face England, who beat Wales 15-5 in the other semi-final.
Damian Delgado and Chris Favel are into the men’s pairs B6-B8 final after beating England 17-4.
And serena bonell and Cheryl Lindfield are into the women’s pairs B6-B8 final after seeing off South Africa 19-12 in their own semi. Both Para Pairs B6-B8 Finals take place on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, Aussie Ellen Ryan competes in the finals of the women’s singles at 1.30am AEST on Tuesday.
Ellen Ryan of Team Australia is into the women’s singles final.Source: Getty Images
SIX-TIME COMPETITOR LEADS AUSSIE BRONZE
Australia’s six-time Commonwealth Games competitor Jian Fang Lay has led the Aussie team to bronze in the women’s table tennis.
She won the opening doubles with yangzi liu, who won her own singles game before Jian Fang Lay sealed the 3-0 over Wales with a singles victory of her own.
Jian Fang Lay now has eight minor medals to her name.
minhyung jee was the other member of the team.
Jian Fang Lay led the Aussies to bronze in table tennis!Source: Getty Images
KEY OVERNIGHT EVENTS
SWIMMING
In the morning session (4am AEST Tuesday), medals are on offer in the:
– men’s 100m freestyle final (Kyle ChalmerWilliam Xu Yang, Zac Incerti)
– women’s 200m backstroke final (Kaylee McKeown, Minna Atherton)
– women’s 200m individual medley final (Kaylee McKeown, Abbey Harkin, Ella Ramsay)
– men’s 50m freestyle S7 final (Matthew Levy, Joel Mundie)
– women’s 100m breastroke SB6 final (Isabella Vincent, Ella Jones)
– men’s 50m backstroke final (Ben Armbruster, Andrew Jeffcoat, Bradley Woodward)
– women’s 50m butterfly final (Alex Perkins, Emma McKeon, Holly Barratt)
– men’s 4x200m freestyle relay final (Australian team)
HOCKEY: The Kookaburras play their second game of the Games – facing NZ at 6am AEST.
JUDO: Aussie judoka Joshua Katz (60kg) and brother Nathan (66kg) are both competing for bronze medals overnight.
DAY FOUR SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES AEST)
Lawn Bowls and Para Lawns Bowls, 5.30pm
Hockey, 6:00 p.m.
Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis, 6.30pm
Weightlifting, 6.30pm
Judo, 7.00pm
Swimming and Para Swimming, 7.30pm
Badminton, 8:00 p.m.
Boxing, 9:00 p.m.
Netball, 9:00 p.m.
Squash, 9.00pm
Artistic Gymnastics, 10.00pm
Track and Para Track Cycling, 11.00pm
Hockey, 11:00 p.m.
Weightlifting, 11.00pm
Beach Volleyball, 11.30pm
Boxing, 3:30 a.m.
Weightlifting, 3.30am
Hockey, 4:00 a.m.
Swimming and Para Swimming, 4.00am
Beach Volleyball, 4.00am
Basketball 3×3 and Wheelchair Basketball 3×3, 4.30am
Follow all the action from Day 4 of the Commonwealth Games in our LIVE BLOG below!
Former Australian swimmer turned popular TV presenter Johanna Griggs says Kyle Chalmers is “feeding” the very headlines he’s railed against at the Commonwealth Games as she issued a reality check about the media’s role in covering sport.
The swimming star has blasted the media in Birmingham, accusing it of focusing on “clickbait” rather than the impressive results of our men and women in the pool.
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There have been reports and speculation about an icy dynamic within the Dolphins camp, sparked by the relationship between Chalmers, Emma McKeon and Cody Simpson.
Chalmers and McKeon were romantically linked last year and now the 28-year-old superstar is dating Simpson — who is competing in England as part of his first ever Australian team since ditching his music career and returning to competitive swimming.
The trio have repeatedly denied their relationship has caused any friction.
Chalmers cast doubt on his future in the sport if what he called “fake headlines” continued to be thrust into the spotlight, saying the media doesn’t understand the impact his stories have on athletes’ mental health.
However, Griggs — who won a backstroke bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games — says Chalmers is only giving the story more oxygen by continually mentioning it in interviews and on social media.
“The only person who is going to potentially derail (his campaign) — although it certainly didn’t look like it this morning in his 100m freestyle — could be Kyle himself,” Griggs told Sydney’s 104.9 Triple M Breakfast with MG, Jess & Pagey.
“He seems to be feeding it, which is the ironic situation with all these sorts of things.
“You can’t just expect the headlines to always be great. You have to accept that occasionally they might be about other people and sometimes they may not necessarily show you in the same light.
“Do I think they (the headlines) are affecting Emma McKeon? Absolutely not.
“She’s amazing, right. So she’s proven, without question, that she is able to compartmentalize whatever’s going on.
Johanna Griggs dropped some truth bombs on Kyle Chalmers.Source: SuppliedChalmers is swimming brilliantly despite his concerns. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
Griggs, who is part of Channel 7’s team covering the Games, also suggested the freestyle king needs to accept headlines aren’t always going to be positive in the world of professional sport.
“I think it would be tedious for them, being asked about it non-stop,” Griggs told Triple M.
“If you’re a tennis player, that happens not only at every major tournament, it happens at every press conference, it happens at every week — same as the footballers, week in, week out.
“It’s the reality of sport so I’m hoping Kyle stops feeding it.
“I get he’s feeling incredibly swamped at the moment. Every time he mentions it, he makes it a bigger story.”
Chalmers has won gold medals in Birmingham as part of Australia’s mixed relay team and in the 4x100m men’s freestyle relay.
After his impressive swim in the heats of the individual 100m freestyle event, the 24-year-old was asked how he was feeling.
“Terrible. Terrible. It’s been probably the hardest 12 hours in my sporting career for sure,” he said. “It is extremely hard. Extremely challenging.
“When you’re on the other side of the world and don’t have your direct support network around you it’s already hard enough, let alone last night.”
Chalmers was referring to the previous day’s press conference, which was stopped after a barrage of questions about his dynamic with Simpson and McKeon.
He said the way the situation has unfolded left his mum in tears when they spoke after the relay victory.
“I really feel I don’t deserve any of that and to be honest with you, it makes me question why I do this sport and where my future lies going forward,” Chalmers said.
“I don’t want any of this. I swim because it’s what I’m good at. I love swimming. I love being part of the Australian swimming team. Standing up in front of big crowds and swimming fast, but I don’t want the rest of it.
“And for me it’s taking too much of a toll on my mental health. It embarrasses me that my family, my grandparents have to sit down and read the stuff that gets put in the media.
“It upsets me that I have to go home to my mum crying on FaceTime to me.”
Emma McKeon’s relationship with Cody Simpson has generated plenty of headlines. Picture: Emma McKeon/InstagramSource: Supplied
He may be upset out of the water but in the pool, Chalmers looks as classy as ever. The South Australian — who won 100m freestyle gold at the Rio Olympics and silver at last year’s Tokyo Games — is eyeing off another medal in his pet event this week.
Chalmers crushed his 100m freestyle semi-final on Monday morning, touching the wall first and setting a new Commonwealth Games record time of 47.36 seconds.
Australian swimming champion Cate Campbell is working for Channel 7 in Birmingham and praised Chalmers for how he’s handling things during their poolside interview on Monday morning, before talk turned to his tattoos and what they symbolize.
“I’ve had three heart surgeries, I have a chain (tattoo) that is broken because my heart was holding me back and now it’s fixed,” Chalmers said.
“I’m the lion (tattoo) that’s broken out. So yeah, that’s a special one for me.”
Chalmers added he’s been brilliantly supported by those closest to him.
“I don’t have anything else to say, it’s rough,” he said. “It’s been a whirlwind. It’s nice to swim fast. I think it’s easy to put on a brave face and smile. It’s hard, it’s very hard.
“The team has been amazing.
“I just wanted to put my headphones on and switch off and not talk, (but) all of my teammates, coaches and staff coming up and saying they are there for me has been really special. I wouldn’t have been able to get through it without my teammates.
“I’m not a robot. We have feelings, we have emotions, we’re no different than anyone else. We struggle a lot, mental health is a huge thing in sport.”
Shayna Jack almost apologized for saying she was about to get emotional after her bronze medal swim. The 23-year-old comeback star has nothing to apologize for.
After a string of cruel injuries and a two-year doping ban, Jack on Monday morning enjoyed the single sweetest moment of her swimming career and was overcome with emotion.
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Jack missed out on gold in the women’s 50m freestyle final to Aussie superstar Emma McKeon, who won a mind-boggling 11th career gold medal.
It was an astonishing medal sweep for Australia with Meg Harris taking the silver, just 0.04 seconds ahead of Jack.
Jack has previously won world championship gold medals and a Commonwealth Games gold medal in relay events — but this was her first ever major individual swimming medal. You could tell as she fronted the press after the swim that it meant everything,
Jack had qualified fastest for the final and had some regret about missing out on the gold — but falling short against one of the greatest athletes of all time is nothing to be disappointed by.
She started her brief press conference by saying: “I’m just going to get emotional.
“Like it might not have been the result I wanted tonight, but I have to be really proud of how far I’ve come.
“It’s not been an easy journey. It’s been two major hiccups. Just to be standing here today and to be able to get on the podium with these two girls is actually such an honor. I probably can’t put into words how amazing it feels to be here.”
Jack said winning a gold medal in an individual event is the next thing for her to chase with plenty of fire in her belly.
“I have always loved being part of the relays but to progress and to be on the podium as an individual swimmer is second to none,” she said.
“I’m so proud of myself and these girls tonight. We gave it our all.
“I don’t think I’ve given myself that time to recognize how far I’ve come.”
It was an emotional night for the Aussie team with McKeon also briefly breaking down in tears after her historic achievement.
Jack’s emotion shows how far she has come.
She last month became a world champion after anchoring the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team to gold in Budapest.
Jack was returning after the shock moment on the eve of the 2019 World Championships where it was revealed she had tested positive to anabolic agent Ligandrol.
Jack continually maintained her innocence and had her suspension cut in half by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in November 2020.
