By Sarah Dyce
Five Australian gold medals, an Australian sweep of the podium and a Games record, night two at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre belonged to the green and gold.
It opened with Sam Short leading from the front to win the men’s 400m freestyle, completing an Australian sweep of the podium. Elijah Winnington took silver in and Benjamin Goedemans the bronze.
For Winnington, it’s a third Commonwealth Games.
“The Commonwealth Games has got a rich history, and it’s my third one, and I’ve loved the other two that I’ve been to,” Winnington said.
“It’s where I debuted on the Australian team, so it holds a really special place in my heart, and anytime I get to represent Australia is a great time.”
Mollie O’Callaghan added another Commonwealth gold to her collection soon after, winning the women’s 200m freestyle. Lani Pallister, fresh off victory in the 400m freestyle last night, backed up for silver.
Alex Perkins claimed gold in what is her first individual Commonwealth title, after she medalled in the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay at Birmingham 2022 and gold the night before in Glasgow in the 4x100m freestyle relay with Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Meg Harris.
One of the night’s biggest storylines belonged to Sam Williamson.
Recovering from a knee injury that left him learning to walk again, he surged through the final 50m of the men’s 100m breaststroke to win gold, holding off Jersey’s Filip Nowacki and England’s Adam Ramsay-Peaty. Zac Stubblety-Cook, the second Australian in the field, finished fifth.
“After everything that has happened, to come away with a gold medal it’s something I will remember for the rest of my life,” Williamson says.
“Getting up on the blocks tonight was something I was always going to be proud of so to come away with a gold is a dream come true.
“If you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything.”
Australia closed the session in style, winning the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay by a wide margin in a Games record of 3:19.36. Flynn Southam, Kyle Chalmers, Shayna Jack and Meg Harris combined for the win, the fifth Australian gold in the pool on the night.
In the men’s S14 200m freestyle final, Jack Ireland battled through to claim silver, an improvement on his result at Birmingham 2022.
“It feels really good to get silver,” Ireland said. “It was really tough and my legs were burnt by the end, but I tried to stay through it.”
Reflecting on his progress since his Commonwealth Games debut four years ago, Ireland said the step up the podium meant plenty.
“Especially from four years ago when I won a bronze in my Commonwealth Games debut, it’s good to go up again four years later.
“I had the confidence to be on the podium again, even though I know the Men’s S14 200m Freestyle is one of the toughest events on the Para program.”
In the corresponding women’s S14 200m freestyle final, Australia’s Madeleine McTernan finished fifth.
Matthew Temple booked his spot in the final in the men’s 100m butterfly final with a Games record of 50.63. Australia will take three swimmers into that final. Ben Armbruster qualified Harrison Turner also progressed, qualifying fifth fastest.
Cameron McEvoy, Jamie Jack and Flynn Southam all progressed through the men’s 50m freestyle semi-finals and will face Canada’s Josh Liendo in the final.
In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Sienna Toohey and Ella Ramsay both advanced, finishing second and third in the second semi-final in 1:06.69 and 1:07.47 to qualify third and sixth fastest overall. The third Australian in the field, Tara Kinder, was sixth in the second semi in 1:08.50 and did not progress.
In the women’s 100m breaststroke, Sienna Toohey and Ella Ramsay both advanced, finishing second and third in their second semi-final to qualify third and sixth fastest overall. The third Australian in the field, Tara Kinder, was sixth in the second semi, finishing ninth overall. Night three in Glasgow brings finals in the men’s 100m butterfly, the men’s 50m freestyle and the women’s 100m breaststroke, with Temple, McEvoy and Toohey among the Australians chasing more gold in the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.