‘It is shocking’: Ian Thorpe stunned by Commonwealth Games boilover

Aussie legend Ian Thorpe didn’t know what to say after one of the biggest boilovers in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

Ian Thorpe was left stunned by an epic boilover. Photo: Getty Images

One of the biggest shocks at the Commonwealth Games has blown away Aussie legend Ian Thorpe.

The men’s 100m breaststroke final at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre in Birmingham on Monday morning became firefight that few saw coming.

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It was supposed to be a showdown between English Olympic goliath Adam Peaty and Aussie 200m breaststroke Olympic gold medallist Zac Stubblety-Cook. But nobody told England’s James Wilby.

Peaty, who qualified fastest for the final despite an ongoing recovery from a foot injury, was ahead with 25m to go, but he incredibly fell apart in the final lunge to the wall.

With Stubblety-Cook and fellow Australian Sam Williamson exploding at the death, Peaty suddenly went from the gold medal position to missing out on the podium completely.

The shock result was written all over Wilby’s face as he realised he’d won the gold medal.

Peaty, a three-time Olympic champion is not used to losing — and Thorpe is not used to watching him lose.

The world record holder had been undefeated in the 100m breaststroke at major meets since 2014.

Members of Channel 7’s commentary team described the result as “mind-blowing” and “one of the biggest upsets we have ever seen in swimming”.

“It is shocking,” Thorpe told Seven.

James Wilby of Team England celebrates. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Englands James Wilby celebrates after winning gold in the 100 metre breaststroke final. Picture: Michael Klein.

A Seven colleague said “I cannot believe this” while caller Basil Zempilas added: “Oh my goodness … unbelievable that Peaty, who led at the halfway (mark), has not finished in the top three.”

A BBC commentator also described Peaty’s disappearance as “astonishing”.

Wilby hit the wall in 59.25 seconds, just 0.27 seconds ahead of Stubblety-Cook. Peaty missed out on the bronze to Williamson by 0.04 seconds.

The crowd, who roared for Peaty when he made his way to the starting blocks, was left stunned.

“When it comes down to the race sometimes it doesn’t go to plan,” Peaty said.

“I was hurting from the 50m but you know that’s a lack of training, lack of racing.”

He added: “I can’t overthink it. I’m a fighter and sometimes you have got to have these moments to keep fighting.”

The 27-year-old said the Paris Olympics in 2024 were firmly on his radar.

“The next two years are going to be huge — how we attack that now, I don’t know,” Peaty said. “Because I haven’t done two winter blocks in a long time so it’s back to the drawing board and back to training.”

Adam Peaty was taken down in the final. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Plenty who watched the race were in a state of shock.

“James Wilby WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!? Amazing swim from the 200m silver medallist to claim 100m GOLD as Adam Peaty is fourth,” journalist Nick Hope tweeted.

Naveen Peter wrote: “HOLY MOLY!!! Adam Peaty of (England) not among the medals in men’s 100m breaststroke. When was the last time that happened?”

British sports writer Matt Maher added: “Adam Peaty hadn’t lost a race over 100m breaststroke for EIGHT years. He hadn’t been beaten over any distance since April, 2018. Regardless of his disrupted preparation, fair to call tonight one of the biggest #swimming shocks of all time.”

British publication The Independent called it an “unthinkable result”.