Could we see something special from James Magnussen when the 100 freestyle gets underway at Glasgow on Saturday night?
The 23-year-old Australian has had a chequered career, with the low-light the 2012 London Olympics.
But on Friday night we got a glimpse that Magnussen’s on the way back when he hauled in the tearaway South Africans in the final of the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Swimming the third leg after Tommaso D’Orsogna and Matt Abood, Magnussen’s input gave anchorman Cameron McEvoy an armchair ride to gold in Games record time.
Both Magnussen and McEvoy will do battle for gold in the 100m freestyle final. Last time they met, McEvoy was successful at the Australian Championships.
But there’s a strong indication Magnussen is ready to throw his big 197-centimetre, 90-kilogram frame at his far smaller opponent, who stands at 185 centimetres and weighs 85 kilograms.
Friday night was another gold haul for the motivated Australians with four in the pool, another at the velodrome, and Laura Coles’ success at the skeet shooting.
Leiston Pickett started the golden ball rolling in the pool by taking out the 50m breaststroke, before Thomas Fraser-Holmes upset McEvoy in the 200m freestyle, with the latter a firm favourite.
Maddison Elliott won the S8 100m freestyle in world record time, more about this delightful teenager in a moment, and the men topped off the night with their relay gold.
At the velodrome, the 4000m individual pursuit final was like a world heavyweight boxing title fight as it meant something. Correct that, meant everything.
The two Australians made it memorable – Jack Bobridge the world record holder, and Alex Edmondson, the world champion.
Bobridge was successful, leaving Edmondson with silver to join his sister Annette, who also won silver in the 3000m individual pursuit.
The biggest disappointment of the night was Alicia Coutts, the defending champion, failing to medal in the 100m butterfly final.
Winner of five golds at Delhi four years ago, Coutts wasn’t in the hunt, while 19-year-old Emma McKeon came from nowhere to win bronze, to go with her two golds so far at Glasgow.
Now to Maddison Elliott, a 15-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer. When she hit the wall in the S8 100m final and saw she had just set a world record of 1.05.32 she burst into a flood of tears.
The pool was in danger of overflowing. By the time Maddy got to Channel Ten poolside interviewer Mark Howard she was still in tears of joy.
In a fabulous interview Howard gave Maddy a hug to relax her and out came the most beaming smile at the complex. She thanked all the right people, adding she has met Prince William, but now wanted to meet his grandmother.
So too a massive word of praise for the silver medalist behind Maddy – England’s Steph Slater, who suffered nerve damage to her left arm from cerebral palsy.
Steph swum the 100m with only her right arm to give Maddy a real run for her money. How Steph kept in a straight line was no mean feat in itself.
Two wonderful competitors who have made the most of what they haven’t got. For all the whingers in the world, take a leaf out of their books.
JAJI
Guest
John Oliver is great. We love Commonwealth sports that are largely irrelevant to most of the earth. Take India away from cricket and the sport hasn't grown in 100 years with not one test playing nation emerging in 30 years. Last Olympics showed that Europe is now getting interested in swimming seriously and look what happened. The fact Usain Bolt, the one true global sports figure in Glasgow, isn't even running in his events says it all.
Bill
Guest
Check this link out. Sums up this waste of money and time event. http://www.sportsgrid.com/video/john-oliver-explains-the-commonwealth-games-on-last-week-tonight/
Trent Rolls
Guest
yup, I sure did, but apparently you did not ... "In the vast majority of commonwealth countries the only sports played in any meaningful way are as i said football and running"
magila cutty
Guest
Deanp me get my facts straight? Where did i mention football or speculate on the biggest sport in India or anywhere else? Did you even read my post?
deanp
Guest
It would help to get your facts correct. It might give your little whine at least some credibility. The greatest participatory sport in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh is cricket, not football. I believe swimming goes way back in Oz, as does rugby union in NZ, so just what sports are being "targeted" as you claim? Also, feel free to list these sports of worldwide popularity at which Oz is unable to compete. I'll then be able critique your list. We'll then see if you have any idea of what you are talking about.
Shouts Chen
Guest
I think that the Missile is a good swimmer like US swimmer Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.
magila cutty
Guest
In the vast majority of commonwealth countries the only sports played in any meaningful way are as i said football and running. More over a lot of these countries don't have a sporting culture and simply don't participate. Even where they have SOME people wanting to play there are hurdles like equipment such as a swimming pool! Aspiring athletes are on their own funding wise as things like health care education rightly take priority. So what are we left with , Aust, UK, Can, NZ and to some extent India. Hardly the cream or even truly world class. About on par with the Asian games. shite.
Slane
Guest
Durp durp. 2 billion odd human beings live and work in the Commonwealth nations. Oh no, we are only beating 1/3rd of the people on the planet. Why even bother?
magila cutty
Guest
Ok there is the odd performance but it is mostly a sea of mediocrity. My point is that Australia does well in swimming precisely because it lacks competition and the women do better as for them there is even LESS competition. In sports where true competition exists (football and running being the only ones) Australia can't compete. Like NZ making a minor sport your national sport and being "world" beaters. Australia do the same, indeed it's a policy to target minor sports or ones requiring equipment to boost the medal count. What grates is the triumphalism we hear continually. World records, the few there are are hardly a reason to hold up the event as anything more than a sideshow.
Jo M
Guest
You aren't just beating England and the rest when you break a world record. I would say that is wonderful and world class actually. Magnussen has won the last 2 100 metre world titles against way better competition. I would also say that is world class. Your comment is a joke.
Gavin r
Guest
You can only compete against who you're thrown up against, pal. The Olympics sorts the men from the boys as we all know. No ones getting carried away but a bunch of golds, WR's and CR's are all good
magila cutty
Guest
What a joke. Back to what Australia does best, find a sport or meeting where there is little competition and rake in the gold. Then marvel at how wonderful "we" are, after all we just beat England and Singapore. Wall to wall coverage proclaiming that all this is truly world class. Give me a break.