As David Popovici has accelerated past his older rivals in the pool this summer, it seemed inevitable that the skinny 17-year-old would threaten world records, the only surprise when he broke the 100m freestyle mark in Rome on Saturday was that he got so quick so fast
On Friday, the Romanian had become only the fourth man in history to swim under 47sec as he set a European record to win his semi-final at the European Championships in Rome.
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That was more than half a second faster than his gold-medal time at the World Championships in June.
On Saturday, he was even quicker, swimming 46.86sec to slice 0.05sec off the record set by Brazilian Cesar Cielo in the 2009 World Championships, also in Rome, in the era of buoyant body suits.
“Yesterday I said that the European record was just one step in the right direction – and I was right. There was no rush and I had to be extremely patient about the world record, ”he said after his victory about him.
In the World Championships in Budapest, Popovici outpaced Caeleb Dressel, who had swum the fastest 100m in a textile suit, in the heats.
The Olympic champion withdrew from the competition before the semis.
Romania’s David Popovici set a new world record in the men’s 100m freestyle. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)Source: AFP
“It’s nice being able to say that I am the fastest to ever do it and it’s a good thing to know I clashed with all of the titans of this race.”
His coach, Adrian Radulescu said that he was too surprised by the speed of Popovici’s progress.
“It’s amazing that it is happening so early,” said Radulescu, just 32.
Asked on Thursday what makes him successful, Popovici acknowledged that success comes at a price.
“When Erling Haaland, a football player, was asked the same question, he replied ‘hard work’ So, it’s just really a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice and it all comes down to the question of how badly do you want Item; and I really do want it, badly!”
“What are you willing to do that others aren’t? This includes living a completely different lifestyle.”
This summer, Popovici has dominated the World Championships and the European Junior Championships in his home town, Bucharest.
After Rome he plans to head to the world junior championships in Lima
“Really, all I want to get out of this meet and out of world juniors in Peru is simply having fun. The medals, the records, everything, the good times are simply a bonus. If we manage to have fun, that’s very satisfying,” he said.
Not everyone might share his idea of fun.
“Everything in sports is fun. Getting extremely tired and then wanting to vomit,” he said.
“Having all sorts of lactate problems… that’s fine. It’s not fun at the time but after half an hour you don’t want to kill yourself anymore and you feel as if its all worth it.”
Popovici was nine when he joined the swimming club where Radulescu coaches.
Popovici is just 17 years of age. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)Source: AFP
“He wasn’t the easiest to train, he was mostly looking for fun, to skip his turn… But there was something special about him, he was very competitive.”
“He must have been ten years old, we were organizing a competition for swimmers of the same age,” recalled the coach.
“A 25-meter swim and the last one was eliminated… Each time, David finished second last. Ahead of him, they wanted to prove that they were good, they got tired. In the final race, the other survivor was so tired, David won.”
Popovici is unusually thin for a top swimmer.
“David has a keen sense of water,” said Radulescu.
“It’s not about how much force you can generate, but how you can put it into the speed you develop. So, yes, he is very thin, but he has enough strength to swim at higher speeds.”
But, added, the coach, Popovici’s physique will change.
“He’ll be 18 in September, his body will grow, evolve to a man’s size. It’s a challenge… to get the right balance between strength and efficiency.”
Popovici already has a nickname: ‘The Magician’.
“I was passionate about magic when I was younger, the card tricks and illusions and stuff but not anymore. It was a little hobby before swimming,” I explained.
“But yes, some people have called me The Magician because of what I do in the pool but again, I don’t think it represents me. I like to think of myself as a simple guy who just swims fast.”
Seventeen-year-old David Popovici of Romania became the youngest swimmer to break the world swimming record in the men’s 100-meter freestyle on Saturday, beating the mark set more than 13 years ago in the same pool.
Popovici touched in 46.86 seconds at the European championships to top the time of 46.91 set by Brazil’s César Cielo at the 2009 world championships, which also were held at Rome’s historic Foro Italico.
Cielo established his record on July 30, 2009, at the last major international meet to allow rubberised suits. It stood longer than any record in the event’s history, going back to 1905.
Now, it belongs to one of the sport’s budding stars.
“There was no rush and I had to be extremely patient about the world record,” Popovici said.
“It has hurt but it’s always worth it and I feel fine right now. It felt great and it’s very special to break this record which was set here in 2009 by César Cielo.”
When Brazil’s César Cielo set the existing men’s 100m freestyle world record in 2009, ‘super suits’ were still legal.(Getty Images: Clive Rose)
Cielo still holds the record in the 50 free, which is among eight men’s long-course standards that remain from the rubber-suit era. Five of those were set at those supercharged 2009 worlds.
Popovici went out in 22.74 and set the record by going 24.12 on the return lap to easily beat Hungarian butterfly specialist Kristóf Milák by 0.61. Italy’s Alessandro Miressi claimed the bronze in 47.63.
“This was a brilliant race, a joy to swim next to David,” Milák said.
“David is a fantastic swimmer, I think the same crazy genius of the freestyle that I am in the butterfly. It’s great that his name will hit the headlines for long, long years.”
Romania’s David Popovici swam the fastest 100m freestyle in history, stopping the clock in 46.86 seconds.(AP: Andrew Medichini)
Popovici’s emergence sets up a potentially huge showdown at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where American star Caeleb Dressel — winner of five gold medals at last summer’s Tokyo Games — will come in as the reigning gold medalist in the 100m free.
Popovic had his coming-out at this year’s worlds in Budapest, sweeping golds in the 100m and 200m free. He didn’t get a chance to swim the 100m against Dressel, who dropped out of the event for health reasons before the final.
Milák, world record-holder in the 200m fly, hopes to also be part of the freestyle mix in Paris.
“My goal is very clear,” the Hungarian said. “I just want to reach a level in this event to arrive to Paris 2024 with the capability of swimming at a time somewhere very close to 47 seconds.”
Barcelona have reportedly threatened legal action over Frenkie de Jong’s contract, after the Spanish giants claimed to have found evidence of criminality on “the parties who signed” the upgraded deal.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Catalan club is hoping to either sell the Dutch star or revert the deal back to what it was before to help solve their financial woes.
De Jong has been heavily linked with a transfer to Manchester United, although Chelsea recently emerged as a potential suitor for his services.
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Meanwhile, striker Timo Werner is close to finalizing his death with RB Leipzig after arriving in Germany for his medical.
The 26-year-old rose to footballing stardom during his first stint with the club, and became one of the biggest names on the transfer market before being snatched up by Chelsea two years ago.
While Chelsea may lose Werner, the Blues are heavily linked with another emerging star who they could sign on a world record fee.
Here’s all the news and gossip in the latest edition of our Rumor Mill!
BARCA THREATEN LEGAL ACTION
Barcelona’s financial woes are in dire need of a solution recruit after La Liga rejected their attempt to register new players, including star Robert Lewandowski.
Frenkie de Jong has been linked with two of the biggest clubs in England, with a transfer shaping up as a potential solution to their money drama.
But the de Jong saga at Barcelona has reached a dramatic new twist with the club reportedly threatening legal action over the stars renewed deal.
Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong reacts during the 57th Joan Gamper Trophy friendly football match between FC Barcelona and Club Universidad Nacional Pumas at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 7, 2022. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP)Source: AFP
De Jong signed a two-year contract extension with the club on October 20, 2020, which kept him at the club for longer but reduced his salary in the short-term.
It’s believed the Netherlands international is owed €18 million ($26m AUD) in deferred wages, which the club is hoping to annul.
David Ornstein has reported that the deal presented by the club’s previous board involved alleged “criminality” and provides “grounds for legal action against those involved”.
Previously, Barcelona president Joan Laporta had insisted that he wants de Jong to remain at the club.
“Frenkie’s our player and we want him to stay at Barcelona, he wants to stay too,” Laporta said.
“With him and his teammates, we have a very powerful midfield. He has offers, but we want him to stay.”
RED DEVILS TO SIGN FRENCH MIDFIELDER
Manchester United had identified midfielder Fabian Ruiz as a possible alternative to de Jong and it appears the deal is progressing, as Erik ten Hag looks to complete his fourth signing.
Ten Hag booed after United’s horror loss | 01:18
Guardian revealed an agreement has been reached between Juventus and Manchester United for £15 million ($26 million AUD).
Rabiot has had a decorated playing career so far, having won Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain on five occasions, and he’s also a Serie A winner.
WERNER TO COMPLETE MOVE
Chelsea striker Timo Werner is on the cusp of returning to RB Leipzig, after arriving in Germany for his medical.
Tim Werner.Source: AFP
Werner had an underwhelming spell at the Blues, but is set to return to the club where he really made his name in world football.
The 26-year-old scored 90 goals and had 40 assists in his 156 games for RB Leipzig, before leaving in 2020.
CHELSEA BIG SPEND CONTINUES
Leicester defender Wesley Fofana could be wearing another navy jersey this season, as Chelsea prepare to launch a world record bid this week.
Football Londonunderstand that the Blues will attempt to sign their second center back of the English summer, after announcing Kalidou Koulibaly.
It’s believed that Fofana is pushing for a move away from the Foxes, even though coach Brendan Rodgers has insisted that he’s not for sale. According to the report, Chelsea are preparing a bid that would smash the world record for the highest fee paid for a defender — currently the 87 million euros ($A127m) Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019.
ONE OR THE OTHER
Barcelona will not sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay, as both players continued to be linked with transfers away from the Camp Nou.
Football insider Fabrizio Romano has said that no discussions have been held between Chelsea and Barcelona over Aubameyang, although he is on their “list”.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – AUGUST 07: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth goal during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Pumas UNAM at Spotify Camp Nou on August 07, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The former Arsenal captain could be set for a sensational return to England with London rivals Chelsea, although he’s happy in Spain.
Meanwhile, Depay is reportedly negotiating a free agency with Juventus interested in acquiring his services.
BOLOGNA MAKE IT CLEAR
Bologna director Marco di Vaio has made it quite clear that the Italian club want to retain striker Marko Arnautovic, amid rumors of an offer from Manchester United.
The Red Devils reportedly had a bid for the 33-year-old striker rejected.
“Man United on Arnautovic? We’re proud of Man United’s interest for Marko bur we are not planning to sell him,” di Vaio said.
“We want to keep him at Bologna as president said, he’s a key part of our project – there’s not even a price tag.”
Michelle Jenneke is ready to move on from the shoe furore that has swirled in recent weeks, but the court of public opinion doesn’t seem ready to move on just yet.
Jenneke ran a career-saving personal best time at the World Championships in Oregon last month in an event that has had the athletics world raising its eyebrows.
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan broke the world record in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Oregon meet and the fact she did it wearing new shoes was not missed.
Jenneke ran her personal best of 12.66 wearing traditional track spikes while Amusan produced her lightning times wearing Adidas Adizero Avanti shoes — designed for runners who compete in 5-10 km races.
Jenneke’s time wasn’t even enough for her to sneak into the final as Amusan obliterated her personal best time by almost 0.3 seconds to set the new world record at 12.12. She also produced at 12.06 in the final, but it was scratched from the record books because it was a wind-assisted time.
Michelle Jenneke after setting her PB. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images for World Athletics.Source: Getty Images
The times were so quick in Oregon that sprinting icon Michael Johnson thought the timing system was broken.
“I don’t believe the 100th times are correct,” he wrote on Twitter.
“All athletes looked shocked.”
From an Australian perspective, we can be safe in the knowledge that Jenneke’s comeback was all down to her performance.
Amusan hit out at the speculation that surrounded her record and said she switched shoes because of an ongoing heel condition,
“My abilities are not centered around spikes,” she said.
“I had patella fasciitis at the beginning of the season so that set me back for a while. I spoke to Adidas and requested if I could get spikes with a softer sole. They recommended a lot of stuff and I feel comfortable in these, so I was using them basically the entire time.”
Tobi Amusan and her fancy feet. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images.Source: Getty ImagesNigeria’s Tobi Amusan celebrates setting a world record. Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP.Source: AFP
Adidas originally promoted the product as shoes that “provide a snappy, propulsive ride with high traction and reduce fatigue, so you finish 5km and 10km races with a kick”.
Jenneke said before her program starts on Friday evening (AEST) that the shoe technology debate has been blown out of context.
She is much more focused on her own performance—and that sweet personal best she set in Oregon which made her the second-quickest women’s 100m hurdler Australia has ever produced, behind only Sally Pearson.
“It was unbelievable. I still can’t believe I ran that fast,” she said.
“I keep going back looking at footage of the race and just going, ‘Oh my gosh, did I actually do that?’”
When speaking to reporters she went on to say: “I ran quite a PB in that race and ran in the same shoes that I have been running in for the last five years.
“I know I can’t attribute my PB to the shoes because it’s the same shoe, the same model of shoe. I have tried some of the newer spikes that they have coming out, the technology is amazing, and I’m sure people are faster but at the same time if you go back 10, 20 years, look at the shoes people were wearing, they were entirely different to what we were wearing five years ago. The technology is forever evolving.
The jiggle returns. Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP.Source: AFPMichelle Jenneke at the 2018 Games. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
“I don’t think we are seeing anything that is causing that much of a change that it needs to be questioned.
“World Athletics is constantly reviewing this, they do have a compliance list for the shoes, and they have to be checked. I don’t think there is a huge story personally and in terms of me there is definitely not.”
Her return to form makes her an outside medal threat in Birmingham.
She is also promising to produce her trademark pre-race jiggle routine.
The 29-year-old went viral with the pre-race shake at the 2012 World Junior Championships and it ultimately led to her being one of the highest-profile stars of the 2016 Rio Olympics, even though some thought the notoriety didn’t match her performances on the track.
Jenneke was once a household name who attracted global attention — and major endorsement deals from some of the world’s biggest companies. She was sponsored by Coca-Cola at the Rio Games and her face was plastered across billboards in the Brazilian city.
But she copped fierce criticism for a disappointing showing at those Games, finishing a kilometer in her 100m hurdles heat.
Australian track and field coach at the time, Craig Hilliard, accused Jenneke of arriving in Rio out of shape and questioned whether distractions away from the track contributed to her lackluster showing. Athletics Australia then cut her funding from her.
She rebounded for a strong performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and narrowly missed out on a bronze medal.
Four injury-riddled years later and Jenneke will be hoping to make Australia fall in love with her all over again in Birmingham.
Aussie star Michelle Jenneke has run the fastest time of her life to thunder into the final of the 100m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games.
The 29-year-old was looking absolutely shredded as she stood on the starter’s blocks before her heat and it turns out there is no secret behind the physical shape she is in which has her running the best times in her entire career. She told Channel 7 after the race she is in “the shape of my life”.
Jenneke finished second in Heat 3 at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham and moves into the final with the second-quickest overall time, behind only world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria.
Jenneke’s time of 12.63 will not count as a new personal best because the time was wind-assisted.
However, the form is undeniably there.
Her run on Friday night (AEST) would suggest she is a red-hot medal chance, but she is toning down expectations for the final on Sunday night where five of the eight runners were also in the final of the World Championships in Oregon last month .
“This is a very strong field,” she said.
“It’s a very strong field here. I don’t know if I’ll quite be good enough for a medal, but hopefully I can run a personal best and we’ll see where that puts me.”
It is clear she deserves her place alongside the fastest runners in the world.
“Even when I was young at my first world champs I was never really intimidated by anyone,” she said.
“I feel like for me, when I go out there I’m just trying to put my best foot forward and they’re doing the same thing and if they beat me, they beat me. As long as I’m doing my best then that’s all I really care about.
“I’m not too worried about what the other athletes do, except for using them to try and get faster time.”
She said her peak physical condition is simply the result of finally being able to have a stretch without injuries where she could get in an extended training block.
“I haven’t really changed things. It’s just one of those things where I’ve been able to string together some training where I haven’t been injured,” she said.
“So I’ve actually been able to get every session done. When you do that things seem to come together. That’s really all it is. Nothing too special.”
Jenneke ran a career-saving personal best time of 12.66 at the World Championships.
Jenneke’s time wasn’t even enough for her to sneak into the final as Amusan obliterated her personal best time by almost 0.3 seconds to set the new world record at 12.12.
Jenneke’s time in Oregon made her the second-quickest women’s 100m hurdler Australia has ever produced, behind only Sally Pearson.
Jenneke famously went viral with her trademark pre-race shake at the 2012 World Junior Championships and it ultimately led to her being one of the highest-profile stars of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Jenneke was once a household name who attracted global attention — and major endorsement deals from some of the world’s biggest companies. She was sponsored by Coca-Cola at the Rio Games and her face was plastered across billboards in the Brazilian city.
But she copped fierce criticism for a disappointing showing at those Games, finishing a kilometer in her 100m hurdles heat.
Australian track and field coach at the time, Craig Hilliard, accused Jenneke of arriving in Rio out of shape and questioned whether distractions away from the track contributed to her lackluster showing. Athletics Australia then cut her funding from her.
She rebounded for a strong performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and narrowly missed out on a bronze medal.
Four injury-riddled years later and Jenneke is doing plenty to make Australia fall in love with her again.
Australia — we may just have found our next sprint superstar.
Aussie 200m star Calab Law claimed bronze at the under-20 World Athletics Championship in Cali Colombia, clocking a time of 20.48 in the final and landing on the podium.
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It was a hot final as Israel’s Blessing Akawasi Afrifah claimed gold ahead of Botswana’s Lesile Tebogo, who both recorded times of 19.96 seconds, making them the third fastest under-20 200m sprinters in history. Afrifah claimed the gold by 0.006 seconds in the photo finish time but both were awarded the championship record time.
The time was only 0.03 seconds slower than 200m world record holder Usain Bolt’s fastest under-20 time of 19.93 seconds and 18-year-old World Championship silver medalist Erriyon Knighton’s time of 19.49 seconds as the fastest under-20 200m time ever.
Tebogo had claimed the under-20 100m world record earlier in the meet, running 9.91 in the final to break his own record.
Although well outside the world record time, Law claimed the bronze, bouncing back from a slow star to land on the podium.
Law had set a personal best time of 20.42 in the semi-finals, the second fastest under-20 200m time in Australian history, behind only Aiden Murphy’s 20.41 set at the South Australian State Championships in February.
The 200m has traditionally not been a strong suit for Australia
Athletics historian David Tarbotton revealing it was just the fifth international 200m medal Australia had won, and second in the World U20s after Steve McBain’s bronze in 1986.
Murphy did make the semi-finals in Cali as well, but had the 11th fastest time and missed the final, despite coming into the event as a strong medal hope.
But Law brought home the bronze in a brilliant performance to solidify his reputation as one of Australia’s great sprinting prospects.
“I was so tempted to look over my shoulder because I didn’t really feel anybody up next to me. I knew the two boys were up in front, but I was not sure at all – I had to wait to see my name up there,” Law told Athletics Australia.
“The medal for me is like another step, it’s the next level. When I get into my Open season I will be better than ever.”
At just 18-years-old, Law is bound to get faster, which could be perfect timing for the Victorian Commonwealth Games in 2026.
A proud Indigenous man from the Wakka Wakka tribe in North Queensland, Law said he was inspired by those who came before him.
“My favorite sprinter ever is Cathy Freeman. She was the best – so smooth, so relaxed, so long. I always try to replicate the way that she runs but she is too perfect,” Law said.
“My aunty was an amazing sprinter, Aunty Karla, she coached me when I was 12. They are all indigenous Wakka Wakka, my tribe is from North Queensland and they would all be really happy – they were watching me on the big screen.”
Last month, Law raced at the World Championships, making the semi-finals but finishing as the 21st fastest.
Team Australia dominated the Commonwealth Games medal tally in Birmingham in the opening four days, sitting comfortably in front – thanks largely to more dominance in the pool.
Australia claimed a stunning eight gold medals on day one, including five of a possible seven in the pool! On day two, Australia added five more golds.
The gold rush continued with nine on day three, highlighted by Emma McKeon making history with a record-breaking 11th Commonwealth Games gold medal when she took out the Women’s 50m freestyle final.
Australia has dominated again on day four with another NINE gold medals, coming in judo, lawn bowls, cycling and gymnastics — along with the usual big haul in the pool.
Australia has opened day five with a 72nd medal of the Games, this time a bronze in the men’s vault in artistic gymnastics.
DAY 5 LIVE: Athletics begins as Browning opens 100m campaign; McKeon and Simpson eye final swim day
DAY 4 WRAP: Aussies win NINE golds in wild Games medal blitz; Chalmers win ‘hard to enjoy’
Read on for more details and the full medal tally.
Australia sit on top of the medal tally with 31 gold, 20 silver and 21 bronze (71 total!), ahead of England and New Zealand.
The Aussies topped the tally with 198 medals — including 80 gold — in the Gold Coast four years ago.
You can track the live medal tally for every country here, with key Aussie wins and updates as they happen.
Click here for a full list of EVERY Aussie medal winner!
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COMMONWEALTH GAMES MEDALS TALLY (AS OF 5:30AM WEDNESDAY)
RANK/COUNTRY/GOLD/SILVER/BRONZE/TOTAL
1. Australia — 37, 28, 30, 95
2.England—28, 30, 17, 75
3.New Zealand—13, 7, 5, 25
4. Canada — 10, 14, 19, 43
5. South Africa—6, 5, 5, 16
6. India — 5, 4, 3, 12
7.Scotland—3, 8, 15, 26
8. Wales—3, 2, 8, 13
9. Malaysia — 2, 2, 3, 7
10. Nigeria — 2, 1, 4, 7
See the full live medal tally here.
DAY-BY-DAY MEDAL LIST
DAY FIVE
James Bacuetti claimed Australia’s first men’s gymnastics medal of these Games, winning bronze in the men’s vault. 20-year-old English sensation Jake Jarman won gold – his FOURTH of the Games – ahead of Fellow Englishman Giarnni Regini-Moran.
Aofie Coughlan took home the gold medal in the women’s 70kg judo final while Eileen Cikamatana set a new Games Record en route to a gold medal in the women’s 87kg weightlifting final.
in the swimming, Mollie O’Callaghan produced a stunning upset to win the gold in the womens’ 100m freestyle as Elizabeth Deckers won the women’s 200m butterfly.
nina kennedy secured the gold in the women’s pole vault.
DAY 5 LIVE: Athletics begins as Browning opens 100m campaign; McKeon and Simpson eye more gold
DAY FOUR
Australia ended day four with 31 gold, 20 silver and 21 bronze (71 total!), ahead of England and New Zealand.
Georgia Goodwin narrowly won gold in the women’s vault over Canada’s Laurie Denommee, while at the track, matthew glaetzer won gold in the men’s 1,000m time trial. Ellen Ryan won gold in the women’s lawn bowls singles and Tinka Easton caused an upset by claiming gold in judo.
in the pool, Kyle Chalmer won the 100m freestyle, Kaylee McKeown won the 200m backstroke and matthew levy claimed gold in the men’s 50m freestyle S7. Emma McKeon then narrowly clinched gold in the 50m breaststroke to extend her Games record to 12 golds, while the Aussies ended the night with victory in the men’s 4x200m freestyle.
Aussie weightlifter robbed of Gold?! | 00:26
Elsewhere, 49-year-old legend Jian Fang Lay has led the Aussie team to bronze in the women’s table tennis team event.
It began with victory in doubles alongside 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.
Kyle Bruce claimed silver in the men’s 81kg weightlifting after a heartbreaking jury decision overruled his final, gold-winning lift.
The Aussie men’s triples claimed silver in the lawn bowls, fighting back from 12-1 down in the final to level the score at 12-12 against England before falling 14-12.
DAY 4 WRAP: Aussies win NINE golds in wild Games medal blitz; Chalmers win ‘hard to enjoy’
GOLDEN HEARTBREAK: ‘Devastated’ Aussie in tears after gold ‘stolen away’
CHALMERS GOES ALL IN: Legends not surprised by last-minute withdrawal
BIG BLOW: Diamonds’ dream run soured as star sidelined with calf injury
Jian Fang Lay led the Aussies to bronze in table tennis!Source: Getty Images
DAY THREE
Australians Sam Harding and Jonathan Gorlach kicked off the day with superb silver and bronze medals in the men’s PTVI triathlon final.
Emma McKeon and Kaylee McKeown then added two more gold in the pool taking out the Women’s 50m freestyle and the 100m backstroke respectively.
McKeon led home meg harris in silver with Shayna Jack (24.36) finishing third.
In the men’s 50m breaststroke, Zac Stubblety-Cook (59.52) took home bronze.
The Women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team then completed a dominant campaign in the pool by breaking the world record.
Georgia Godwin won the all-round rhythmic gymnastics women’s final.
Australia’s Women’s 7s rugby side then put the pain of Tokyo behind them to claim gold in the final against Fiji.
In track cycling, matthew richardson won the men’s final sprint.
Kristina Clonan took home gold in the 500m time trial.
Georgia Baker won the women’s 25km points race, while Jessica Gallagher picked up her second gold medal of the Games in the Women’s tandem 1000m time trial with pilot Caitlyn Ward.
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
SHOCK CRASH: Cyclist catapults into crowd in horror scenes after Comm Games crash
‘Lost my s***’: Boxall goes bonkers AGAIN as Aussie coach celebrates WR win
‘Took all my courage and energy to swim’: Chalmers stuns in raw, emotional interview
DAY TWO
madison de rosario took out the women’s T53/54 marathon in style, dominating the field to win with a Commonwealth Games record time of 1:56:00.
Jess Stenson won the women’s marathon with an incredible run, going better than her two bronze medals in Glasgow and the Gold Coast.
It was another ripping day in the pool, with katja dedekind winning a gold meal in the women’s 50m freestyle S13 while both the men’s and women’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay finished first.
There were silver medals for maeve plouffe in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit, Brendon Smith in the men’s 400m IM, Emma McKeon in the women’s 100m butterfly and the artistic gymnastics team.
DAY 2 NEWS
WRAP: McKeon makes history amid swim gold rush; rugby stars win thriller
‘A load of s***’: Chalmers explodes at media for ‘ruining it all’ over love triangle claims
‘Dream big’: ‘Extraordinary’ journey behind ‘one of the great’ Aussie athletics triumphs
‘I was just guessing’: New Aussie cult hero’s shock reveal after ‘epic’ career-best run
DAY ONE
matt hauser had the honor of being the first Australian to win a medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, taking home the silver medal in the Men’s Triathlon Sprint Distance Final.
Ariarne Titmus won gold in the women’s 200m freestyle, 18-year-old Aussie Mollie O’Callaghan claimed silver in an unbelievable late charge, ahead of Madison Wilson.
Elijah Winnington won gold in the men’s 400m freestyle, ahead of fellow Aussies Sam Short and Mack Horton. Zac Stubblety-Cook won gold in the men’s 200m breaststroke while Kiah Melverton took silver in the women’s 400m Individual Medley.
In the final race of night one, Australia won gold in the mixed 4x100m relay.
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!
Australian cycling star Matthew Glaetzer was robbed of a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in a decision labeled a “travesty”.
Glaetzer, who was made to sweat for over an hour while officials reviewed footage, had his bronze medal taken off him in a decision widely condemned by the cycling community.
The lengthy review deemed Glaetzer impeded Scotland’s Jack Carlin during the bronze medal sprint, a ruling which was slammed by Aussie cycling royalty Kathy Bates.
Bates, commenting for Channel 7, called the officials’ decision “a poor interpretation”.
“I don’t agree,” Bates said. “If they are going to be that picky they need every camera angle and they sure need a super zoom.
“I’m having nothing of it. The any time limit contact is when Jack Carlin swung back up the track and even touched Matt Glaetzer. If anyone got impeded it was Matt Glaetzer. But the judges, you have to respect their decision. I’m not sure I respect this one to be honest.
“I want to because I think rules are rules but I think this is a pretty crappy decision. I’m devastated for Matt Glaetzer. I don’t see how the Australians will accept this and don’t feel robbed. This is an absolute travesty in my mind. I don’t even think Jack Carlin will be pleased at that turnaround. You want to win fair and square, and that is the most ridiculous relegation I have ever seen.
“I’m very devastated for Matt Glaetzer. And I think it is a poor interpretation.”
Footage showed a distraught Glaetzer when the verdict was announced, while teammate Matthew Richardson celebrated his gold medal.
“You can see it in his face. This decision has just broken him, it is not fair in my estimation,” Bates said.
“He doesn’t have a right of appeal. It is probably why the decision has been taken so long because they were deliberating it, and certainly Australians were arguing as hard as they could and fighting the case for Matt Glaetzer.
“This is just absolute heartbreak for him. The look on his face from him, guys, there have been a lot of tears tonight at the velodrome for happy reasons and now sad ones.
“I won’t give my opinion. But I think what everyone in Australia is thinking right now and I think the same as that man on our screens. We are absolutely devastated having the bronze medal taken from him after the superhuman efforts of the last couple of days. Totally devastated.”
6:03PM FIVE ATHS STARS TO WATCH
Athletics starts at the Commonwealth Games today. Here is who to keep an eye out for—including an Aussie star.
WOMEN Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS) – Javelin The 30-year-old seemed set fair to finally land a Commonwealth Games gold — having taken bronze and silver in the last two editions — after she retained her world title.
The Olympic bronze medalist, though, contracted Covid-19 shortly after her world triumph but the team insisted she would make it to Birmingham.
Barber can take heart that her compatriot Jessica Stenson finally won the marathon title on Saturday despite having Covid less than a month before the Games
Keely Hodgkinson (ENG) – 800m
The 20-year-old should be the hottest of favorites to be crowned Commonwealth Games champion. She took silver in last year’s Olympics behind Athing Mu and then lost out by the barst of margins (0.08sec) to the American in the world final.
That defeat left her bristling.
“I’m definitely a little bit annoyed,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for her but I’m obviously gutted. I came here to win the gold and it didn’t happen.” After her silver de ella in Tokyo, Hodgkinson, who has put studying for a criminology degree on hold, was rewarded by a sponsor with a spin in an Aston Martin.
She felt that her Eugene performance did not merit a repeat but gold in Birmingham should be good enough for a second outing.
MEN Ferdinand Omanyala (KEN) – 100m
The African 100 meter champion could gain compensation at the Games after his world title challenge was shattered by only obtaining a visa to enter the United States at the last minute.
The 26-year-old bowed out in the semi-finals but said he had no regrets and was looking forward to competing in Birmingham.
“The challenge of life is intended to make you better, not bitter,” he tweeted. “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems. No matter how much falls on us, we keep moving.”
Jake Wightman (SCO) — 1500m One of the surprises of the world championships when he took gold in a race being commented on in the stadium by his father and coach Geoff.
The 28-year-old became Britain’s first 1500m world champion since Steve Cram in 1983 and is keen to use it as a springboard for Commonwealth gold and then the European 800m crown in Munich later this month.
“It’s crazy. The time frame between coming back from the worlds and then going into the Commonwealths,” he said.
“It’ll be tough to kind of get myself back up, which is why I need to let myself chill out for a few days to get ready for the tough rounds again and get back into that championship environment.”
Emmanuel Korir (KEN) – 400m
The 27-year-old is the undoubted king of the 800m having added world gold to his Olympic crown.
Eyebrows may be raised as to why he would not attempt to make it a triple of 800m titles in Birmingham.
However, he is extremely confident in his abilities at 400m. He said after the world final that he knew he would win as with a slow first lap he was the best 400m runner in the field.
A further aid to his hopes is he is pretty fresh having only started his season at the end of June.
MUM’S BOOZY 6AM CELEBRATION
On the Gold Coast, in the early hours of Monday morning, a bottle of champagne was popped and passed around – punctuated by some swear words – to signify the arrival of a new sporting superpower.
As sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi stepped forward to accept their Commonwealth Gold, mum Richelle was uncorking the bubbly and getting ready for a big day of celebrating.
Her daughters had helped Australia to an upset semi-final win over New Zealand, and then a trouncing of Fiji in the final to secure gold.
It was a revival of the team’s 2016 Olympic triumph and ushered in a new era of Sevens superstars.
But before all of that? There was a euphoric celebration in the southern hemisphere that may not only have woken up a decent chunk of Queensland’s east coast, but also would’ve made mother Mary blush.
“Mum had a bottle of champagne ready at 6 in the morning — she was ready to celebrate and I think she’ll be on it all day celebrating,” a jubilant Maddison Levi said after Australia’s historic maiden Sevens gold medal win over Fiji.
“I don’t know if I can say it on camera (what mum said) but they were definitely happy.
There were tears of joy. It was a pretty emotional rollercoaster…. they’ve been with us through the highs and lows and to have two kids standing on that podium is pretty awesome.
“They definitely had tears. But lots of swearing, I can confirm.”
Maddison might have undersold the party going back home.
Richelle told Channel 7 later in the morning she was already two bottles of champagne down before 9am.
“Two bottles of champagne already done,” she said.
She was joined by at least one supporter wearing pajamas for a live cross on Channel 7 as the party raged into the morning.
Maddison and sister Teagan are the new face of women’s rugby in Australia, following the path trodden by teammates Charlotte Caslick and Sharni Williams, and earlier Ellia Green and Emilee Cherry.
Powerful, pacey, skilful. There’s a reason they’re among the most in-demand female athletes in the country – with AFLW and NRLW clubs lining up to steal them from rugby union.
“We got to stand next to each other, so it was pretty sentimental. We’ve achieved a Commonwealth Games medal, not many people can do that in their lives let alone have their sister side-by-side,” Maddison said.
But judging by smiles that lit up Coventry Arena stadium on Sunday night, the Levi clan is comfortable in rugby union right now.
“When I first started I aspired to be like Charlotte Caslick and the likes of Ellia Green and now that I’m in this role I’d love to inspire the younger generation because I think it’s such a great sport,” Maddison explained.
“The opportunities you get you can’t get with most sports. And to have younger girls look up to me and hopefully one day be standing side-by-side with girls you call your sister and be celebrating this moment is pretty monumental.”
