“To quote Mohammad Ali, we are the greatest”.
There was not a touch of arrogance in Cate Campbell’s quotation as she anchored the Australian women’s 4×100 freestyle relay team to a world record 3.30.08, more than five seconds ahead of second-placed England on day one of the swimming at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Bronte Campbell led off, followed by Melanie Schlanger, Emma McKeon, and Cate. They were magnificent, and I can’t find any other time two sisters have shared a swimming world record.
The Australians kick-starting their swim campaign with three gold medals – Emma McKeon in the 200 freestyle, and Rowan Crothers in the S9 para 100 free.
For Emma, who had just watched her big brother David lead for most of the men’s 400 freestyle as the fastest qualifier, only to be pipped on the wall by Canadian Ryan Cochrane, so her win was something special.
“I’m normally at home watching all this on television,” was the 19-year-old’s summation, setting a new Games record with a PB of 1.55.57
In 1978 at the Edmonton Comm Games, Emma and David’s father Rod McKeon won the 400 and 200 free gold. Last night it was so close to a repeat in the family 36 years later.
For Crothers it was also special, but in another way. He was born 16 weeks premature and is suffering from cerebral palsy, yet he set a new world record of 54.58 to head an Australian whitewash with Matt Cowdrey silver, and Brenden Hall bronze.
The only other Australian medal in the pool was Bronte Barrett, with bronze in the 200 free.
Thankfully the nightmares of the 2012 London Olympics have been buried.
At the velodrome, it was fitting Australia’s flag-bearer Anna Meares was Australia’s first gold of the 20th Comm Games, taking out her third 500m time trial gold with a Games record 33.435, her fifth career gold taking her ahead of Australia’s previous most successful cyclist Kathy Watts.
Not to be outdone, the men’s 4000 team pursuit was won by the Australian quartet of Glenn O’Shea, Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, and Alex Edmondson.
There was a stir at the entrance to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome when the knight himself was asked for ID by an officious female security guard.
Sir Chris, a Scot, is Great Britain’s most successful gold medal winner with six and a favourite son of Scotland. But he laughed off the incident by saying she was only doing her job.
The security guard was more accurate, telling the BBC – “My Mum will kill me”.
So she lives to see another day, as we look forward to Day 2.
commonwombat
Guest
Not sure you can say there is an real "criteria" for ranking the true merit of CG medals. Even within certain sports, there will be specific events where the standard IS international class whereas the next may be truly 2nd level. My measuring stick is Olympic/World Championships for the specific sports. Netball & bowls are the 2 CG sports where you can realistically state that the competition level IS akin to World Championship standard. Rugby Sevens maybe close to Track cycling has 3 of the major track powers competing (but not necessarily with all their best competing) and it drops away completely after that. Road - timing of the Games vs TdF mitigates against having the full strength teams that ENG/AUS could field but still a respectable field for RR (maybe classify race standard as Pro Conti level). The road TT medal will be contended by top bracket riders. Mountain bike - not sure the depth is that great. Hockey - has four, maybe five, of the top 10-12 teams in both mens and womens but beyond that it's iffy. Squash - hard to gauge just how strong Triathlon - depth akin to a good 2nd level event. Some champions competing but depth the issue. Swimming - varies from event to event. Some wins/medals WOULD be akin to major competition medals whereas others wouldn't make major competition finals T&F - similar to swimming but even less overall quality. Gymnastics - a smattering of competitors who have collected medals/contend for medals in specific events at the top level and maybe 3 countries (GBR/AUS/CAN) qualify full teams for Olympics in women; less in mens. Rhythmic - a standard below artistic. Diving - some intl medallists but depth of competition questionable Less across sports like Judo & Wrestling. Possibly some intl class competitors but depth ? Suspect shooting may vary from event to event. Suspect weightlifting & boxing below top level
James
Guest
I look it at this way in measuring success at these games Commonwealth bronze equates to a 10-20 ranking in the Olympics Commonwealth silver equates to a top 5-10 finish in the Olympics Commonwealth gold-only counts as a genuine world class gold medalist or equal to Olympic gold IF: -you are the current world or Olympic champion. -you beat the current world or Olympic champion -if you dont meet this criteria then you a top 2-5 ranking in Olympic standard The only sports where it is of world class standard by ranking in thier own right is rugby, netball, swimming, cycling. hockey, athletics, squash and triathalon
James
Guest
it all comes down to increased funding to sports for any country that host the Olympic or Commonwealth games as with India four years asgo where they threw so much money across a variety of sports. It a double whammy if you host the Olympic games followed by a commonwealth games which has given the biggest home advantage to England and Scotland. They must have planned it to perfection almost decade ago about having both countries hosting both games consecutively.
Punter
Guest
They smashed the world record, that means no-one has swum faster. We live at the bottom of no-where, we complain we have no competition, but when we do, people say it's not the Olympics. Well guess what the European championship doesn't the Americans or the Chinese either.
Harry
Guest
Fantastic world record and congratulations to the team. More broadly and its worth noting, as much as we all belittle the Commonwealth Games as being little better than a local sports carnival*, there are plenty of world class performers on display in high calibre, competitive global sports - as these girls showed, and also the triathletes and cycling. * Norfolk Island delivered an utter and complete owning to South Africa in lawn bowls. Try and give them a decent game next time you Saffa's.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I find it really interesting to see these meets, where the countries not traditionally strong in events come to the fore... So I know the Scottish bloke in the 100m breast stroke won at the Olympics, but he came second to... Another Scotsman. How much does the home ground advantage come into play? It must be a massive boost.
Jock
Guest
The Australians traditionally smash all before them at commonwealth games swimming , grab the majority of gold medals and with the help of the media convince everyone they are "the greatest". Nothing will change this time around . Come the Olympics however there will be the usual tears, disappointment and excuses as the Americans, Chinese, French and others bring everyone back down to earth!