Commonwealth Games day 5: Live coverage as Australia continue to chase gold medals

HER jaw dropped. Her face froze. Not even Bronte Campbell could believe what she had done. For the first time in three years she had beaten her decorated sister Cate in the 100m freestyle.

HER jaw dropped. Her face froze. Not even Bronte Campbell could believe what she had done.

But it was true. She’d done it — for the first time in three years she had beaten her decorated sister Cate in the 100m freestyle and the shock could not have been greater had we been watching the cartoon Coyote catch the Road Runner. And, what’s more, she did it “held together by sticky tape’’ as the strains and pains of a long preparation took their toll. In a way Bronte’s win was the perfect punchline to a day in which Australia celebrated some of its most inspiring stories of this or any Games. The wonderfully diverse fabric of Australia’s Commonwealth Games team was showcased on a day when a gymnast who started life in an orphanage and another who had to have both arms broken due to a medical condition snatched gold medals once beyond their most fanciful dreams. SISTER ACT: Bronte upstages Cate to claim gold CLASSY: Aussie sportsmanship at its best UPSET: Blake misses out as South Africans steal show But nothing quite matched the bridesmaid becoming bride, especially as this was supposed to be the night when Cate gained retribution for her 100m freestyle loss at the Rio Olympics when she dwelt on the blocks. This time Cate began like a popping champagne cork. There was no excuses. “It always makes the pain of running second a little bit sweeter when the number one is a Campbell,’’ Cate said. “I am so thrilled for Bronte to get a massive win in front of a home crowd. It is never easy being the second Campbell and she is number one now and I am thrilled for her.’’ Australia had another rousing night in the pool featuring four golds for 20 overall. Unassuming backstroke trump Mitch Larkin completed a historic treble with his 200m gold going into a cabinet which also has the 50m and 100m golds. “Its unbelievable,’’ Larkin said. “Words can’t describe it. You train so hard and put so much into it and there are so many ups and downs.’’ Teenager Ariarne Titmus proved that while Tasmanian tigers are extinct on the mainland there is at least one living on in the pool as she powered to an emphatic victory in the 800m freestyle for the first — but surely not the last — individual gold medal of her Commonwealth Games career. Australia’s gold medal tally grew with some heartwarming tales, none better than 147cm livewire Christopher Remkes who swept to a historic gymnastics gold. Remkes spent the early years of his life in a Filipino orphanage before being adopted by South Australian couple Mike and Dora Remkes as a two-year-old. “Without my parents I wouldn’t be here today, I would probably still be in the orphanage,” he said. Remkes was one of two gold medals in the gymnastics with Alexandra Eade winning gold in the women’s floor, an extraordinary achievement given she had to have both arms broken to combat a medical condition when she was 14-years-old. Australia broke a 12-year gold drought on the bowls green Kelsey Cottrell, Natasha Scott, Carla Krizanic and Rebecca van Asch took claimed an intense match against South Africa and snapped a 12-year gold medal drought for Australian lawn bowlers in the Commonwealth Games. Victory triggered some celebrations with a difference with Cottrell’s seven-month-old daughter Sienna using her gold as a teething ring.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games day 5: Live coverage as Australia continue to chase gold medals

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