‘Unbelievable’: Drama as Aussie Isaac Cooper wins World Championships gold

Aussie rising star Isaac Cooper has become a world champion for the first time after a moment that left commentators stunned.

Australia has a new world champion after a double-dose of gold on the final night of the World Swimming Championships in Doha including a crushing relay win.

Isaac Cooper declared he wanted to become the fastest man in the world after the 21-year-old was crowned 50m backstroke.

His win in an event which isn’t on the Olympic program in Paris, was all the more impressive given he was up against the lane ropes, hitting them with his fingers.

Cooper said the roof of Aspire Dome had disorientated him so he was using the lane ropes as a guide to swim straight.

“I told my coach I would love a go at going under 24 tonight but I whacked my finger a couple of times … the roof is curved … so it was a bit of a mind game to swim straight,” Cooper said.

Isaac Cooper rides the lane rope. Photo: Instagram, @world_aquatics.

“I am really proud of that swim … I have no idea what I am capable of but I think it’s up to the individual to test it.

“This event isn’t on the Olympic program so my goal is to now focus on 100 back – and the 50m free. And now I know my front-end speed is there, I have to hold my speed and learn how to turn around and come back. But my focus is the 50m free.

Gold Medalist, Isaac Cooper (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“I would love to one day become the fastest man in the world. Whether it happens this year or in 10 years. But I also know my country needs me for the backstroke, in the relays, so I’m training for that as well.”

Former Aussie world champion turned swimming commentator Bobby Hurley told Channel 9 Cooper’s time of 24.13 seconds would have challenged the world record (23.55 seconds) if not for the lane rope.

“Unbelievable. That’s the most remarkable gold medal there,” Hurley said.

“Isaac Cooper, swimming on the lane rope for that whole race takes gold.”

He went on to say: “Have a look at the aerial here. He was on the lane rope for 40m of the race. He could scare the world record if he’d stayed in the middle of the lane. He must have hit it three or four times.”

Isaac Cooper celebrates after winning gold in the Men's 50m Backstroke Final. Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images.

The Australian team finished with three gold, nine silver and four bronze medals after the a fast-finishing Shayna Jack, made sure the Dolphins 4x100m medley relay - Iona Anderson, Abbey Harkin, Brianna Throssell and Jack – stormed home to touch ahead of Sweden and Canada.

The gold delivered Jack and Throssell their sixth respective medals of the eight-day campaign, and Harkin her fifth and head coach Rohan Taylor called the event a worthy and successful campaign leading in to the Paris Olympics.

“The main purpose of this campaign was to prepare for Paris and to work our way through the format of heat-semi-finals, and there’s a lot of great takeaways,” he said.

: Gold Medalists, Iona Anderson, Abbey Harkin, Brianna Throssell and Shayna Jack (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)

“The progression of our young backstrokers Iona Anderson and Jaclyn Barclay, Shayna (Jack) getting some more racing under her belt, the return to form of Elijah (Winnington), Sam and Isaac coming home as world champions, and we all know that Cam McEvoy is going to go away and process the data.

“China and the US once again showed us the depth and quality they have. Now we return home and get back into our domestic competition, and apply our learning for Paris, we’ll then come together again for a relay camp in April.“

Doha Worlds Gold Medal Honour Roll:

Men’s 50m Breaststroke – Sam Williamson

Men’s 50m Backstroke – Isaac Cooper

Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay – Iona Anderson, Abbey Harkin, Brianna Throssell, Shayna Jack (Heat swimmers: Jaclyn Barclay, Alex Perkins)