Commonwealth Games day 1: 'Incredible' Aussies obliterate everyone in the pool

Australian swimmers obliterated the field in the Commonwealth Games, as megastar Ariarne titmus faced an almighty scare.

The opening day of the Commonwealth Games went to plan for Australia, especially in the pool.

Elijah Winnington claimed gold in the men's 400m freestyle, while Aussie stars also picked up silver and bronze in the event.

We maintained the rage in the women's 200m freestyle final. Ariarne Titmus won gold, touching the wall just 0.12 seconds ahead of fast-finishing 18-year-old Mollie O’Callaghan, who made a late surge to finish second. 

Cody Simpson, Kyle Chalmers and Matt Temple missed out on the 50m butterfly final but Chalmers returned with a bang to help his compatriots win gold in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.

Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook tasted victory in the 200m breastroke final while Tim Hodge won gold in the men's 100m backstroke S9.

Elsewhere, there was an Aussie cycling gold rush at the velodrome as our men and women put on a clinic, while our cricketers survived a massive scare to beat India in a thrilling T20.

Updates

6:25 am July 30, 2022 Highlight

'Incredible': Forgetful moment as Aussies finish with a bang

James Matthey

Australia signed off from the pool on day one with a fifth gold medal in the water, winning the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.

William Yang started things off before Kyle Chalmers swum an excellent second leg to take the lead. He handed over to Mollie O'Callaghan, who maintained Australia's advantage, before superstar Emma McKeon iced the race to finish ahead of England (silver) and Canada (bronze).

O'Callaghan's split was 52.62 seconds, while McKeon delivered a 52.21 split, which Ian Thorpe described in commentary for Channel 7 as "incredible".

Thorpe speculated McKeon was wearing a new necklace with charms for each gold medal but when quizzed about her bling on the pool deck by Cate Campbell post-race, the swimming superstar admitted she completely forgot to take it off before diving into the water.

"I forgot to take it off!" McKeon told Channel 7. "I forgot about it! You just reminded me."

The Aussies just kept on winning.

6:13 am July 30, 2022

Another Aussie wins gold

James Matthey

Zac Stubblety-Cook started slowly in the 200m breaststroke final but the Olympic champion showed his class in the back end of the race to win gold.

Known for reeling in his opponents late in races, Stubblety-Cook remained true to form as he surged home to pass England's James Wilby, who finished second.

6:06 am July 30, 2022

Emma McKeon in cruise control

James Matthey

Emma McKeon cruised through to the final of the 100m butterfly, easing to the wall first in a time of 57.49 in her semi-final.

Fellow Aussies Brianna Throssell and Alex Perkins also qualified for the final.

5:24 am July 30, 2022

Simpson swims as all Aussies miss out

James Matthey

Cody Simpson finished sixth in his 50m butterfly semi-final with a time of 23.87 seconds as all the Aussies missed out on qualifying for the final.

Matthew Temple and Kyle Chalmers touched the wall fifth and sixth respectively in their semi, leaving no room for any green and gold presence in the decider.

5:10 am July 30, 2022

More Aussie medals in para swimming

James Matthey

Aussie Tim Hodge won gold in the men's 100m backstroke S9 with a Commonwealth Games record of 1:01.88.

Competing at her last Games, Australia's most decorated female Paralympian Ellie Cole signed off with an emotional fifth-placed finish in the women's 100m freestyle S9.

Emily Beecroft won silver in the same event.

4:37 am July 30, 2022 Highlight

Teen freak gives Titmus almighty scare

James Matthey

Australian superstar Ariarne Titmus was given an almighty fright in the women's 200m freestyle but delivered a Commonwealth Games record to claim gold in a hotly contested final.

Countrywoman Mollie O'Callaghan, 18, produced a sizzling personal best and stormed home in the final lap to almost catch Titmus, touching the wall just 0.12 seconds behind the defending Olympic champion.

The pair's fellow Aussie, Madi Wilson, took home the bronze medal.

"Moll has been killing it in training. She is young, feisty, hungry, I knew she
would be there," Titmus told Channel 7 post-race. "It is fun to have a race. But I'm pretty happy with the time considering the prep I have had.

"I love it that we are in a country where we have depth like this. There will always be someone there. There's always someone coming through. That makes the sport exciting."

Titmus faced a real challenge from O'Callaghan.

4:26 am July 30, 2022

Next big thing makes her mark

James Matthey

Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh won gold in the women's 400m individual.

The 15-year-old finished seven seconds clear of her closest rival as Australian Kiah Melverton claimed the silver medal.

4:15 am July 30, 2022 Highlight

Aussies start with a bang in the pool

James Matthey

Elijah Winnington won Australia's first gold medal in the pool, storming to victory in the men's 400m freestyle final as part of a green and gold clean sweep of the podium.

Winnington backed up his gold medal-winning performance from the recent World Championships in Budapest to touch the wall first with a time of 3:43.06.

Teenager Sam Short claimed silver while Mack Horton, who won gold in the 400m free at the 2016 RIo Olympics, took home bronze.