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Commonwealth Games 2018, Day 1 live coverage: Cate Campbell flies as Aussies win women’s 4x100m freestyle relay

Aussies smash world record to take gold in women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, with Cate Campbell setting an astonishing split.

43 min read
10:38PMApril 05, 2018
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Cate Campbell celebrates after swimming the final leg of Australia’s world record-setting women’s 4x100m freestyle relay. Photo: AFP
Cate Campbell celebrates after swimming the final leg of Australia’s world record-setting women’s 4x100m freestyle relay. Photo: AFP

Welcome to live coverage of Day 1 of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Daniel Sankey 10pm: WORLD RECORD! Aussie women win 4x100m freestyle

Superstar Cate Campbell swam a blistering 51 seconds flat in anchoring the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team to a gold medal in world record time.

The Aussies smashed their own world record, set in the Rio Olympics, by sixth tenths of a second, stopping the clock in 3:30.05.

Shayna Jack, who won a swim-off against Emily Seebohm earlier in the day to earn a place in the team, led out in 54.03 seconds but trailing Canada’s Alexia Zevnik (53.95).

The Aussies made their move in the second leg, though, with Cate’s sister Bronte Campbell turning a bodylength deficit into a bodylength lead with a 52.03 second split.

Emma McKeon extended the Aussies’ lead to more than three seconds at the end of the third

leg with a 52.99 split, before handing over to Cate Campbell, whose 51.00 split was more than seventh-tenths ahead of the individual world record of Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom. Unfortunately, the mark record does not count as an individual record as only the lead-off swimmer’s time can count towards individual marks.

“It was incredible. It was beyond my wildest dreams. There’s been so much talk about pressure ... no! We’re just feeling the love and the support and that’s what happens when you feel it, world records,” Cate Campbell said.

Commentating for Channel 7, multiple Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe summed up Campbell’s amazing split in two simple words: “She’s back.”

Australia's gold medal and world record-setting women’s 4x100m team (from left) Shayna Jack, Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell. Photo: AFP
Australia's gold medal and world record-setting women’s 4x100m team (from left) Shayna Jack, Bronte Campbell, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell. Photo: AFP

Eric George 9.59pm: Diamonds thrash Northern Ireland

The Diamonds have cemented their gold medal favouritism with a 94-26 win over Northern Ireland. It was the largest score and margin of the Commonwealth Games so far.

Caitlin Thwaites starred in the second half, sinking every one of her 39 shots on goal. It was also hard to miss the impact that Liz Watson had when re-inserted in the final quarter.

The win underscored the impressive depth that the Australian team has brought to the Gold Coast, as the Diamonds barely missed a beat when rotating through all 12 members of the squad.

There will be much stiffer challenges ahead for the home team, but the fact that they’ve hit the ground running with such a settled, clinical performance bodes well for the remainder of the games.

Caitlin Thwaites of Australia blocks a shot by Fionnuala Toner of Northern Ireland. Photo: AAP
Caitlin Thwaites of Australia blocks a shot by Fionnuala Toner of Northern Ireland. Photo: AAP

Daniel Sankey 9.50pm: Wilson takes bronze in 200m breaststroke

Nineteen-year-old Matt Wilson has won a bronze medal in his Commonwealth Games debut, just being edged out by England’s James Wilby and Scotland’s Ross Murdoch in the men’s 200m breaststroke final.

Turning for home, Murdoch and Wilson led by half a bodylength from Wilby, who powered home in lane three to win in 2:08.05.

Murdoch was 0.27 seconds back, with Wilson finishing just outside his personal best time in 2:08.64.

Wilby’s win capped off an outstanding night in the pool for England, who took home four gold.

Men's 200m breaststroke gold medallist James Wilby, centre, with silver medallist Ross Murdoch, left, and bronze medallist Matt Wilson. Photo: AP
Men's 200m breaststroke gold medallist James Wilby, centre, with silver medallist Ross Murdoch, left, and bronze medallist Matt Wilson. Photo: AP

Daniel Sankey 9.42pm: New Games record for Groves

Australia’s Maddie Groves set a new Commonwealth Games record of 57.22 seconds to win her semi-final and qualify fastest for tomorrow night’s final.

Groves will be joined in the final by two other Australians — Emma McKeon, who won the first semi-final in 57.94 seconds, and Brianna Throssell, who was third in the same heat in 58.38 seconds.

McKeon’s effort was outstanding considering she’s already swum one event tonight, winning bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle, and needed to keep something in store for a third event, the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay.

Daniel Sankey 9.30pm: Larkin cements gold favouritism

Australia’s Mitch Larkin sent out an ominous warning to his rivals in the men’s 100m backstroke, winning his semi-final in a blistering 53.15 seconds.

Larkin was more than half a second quicker than the winner of the first semi-final, Canada’s Markus Thormeyer, and will go into tomorrow night’s final as a raging gold medal favourite.

Fellow Australians Bradley Woodward (54.22) and Benjamin Treffers (54.62) both showed their right in the hunt for a medal. Woodward was the third-fastest qualifier for his final after finishing second in Larkin’s semi-final, whil Treffers was sixth fastest after finishing fourth in the same semi.

Australia's Mitch Larkin is the fastest qualifier for tomorrow night’s 100m backstroke final. Photo: AFP
Australia's Mitch Larkin is the fastest qualifier for tomorrow night’s 100m backstroke final. Photo: AFP

Eric George 9.23pm: Diamonds dominate Irish

Australia has put together a dominant half of netball against Northern Ireland, pulling out to a 44 to 15 lead in their preliminary match.

The Diamonds have certainly ticked all of the boxes so far, winning 17 turnovers and only giving away eight of their own.

The experienced heads have lead the way at both ends of the court. Susan Pettitt is yet to miss a shot on goa and has been a linchpin in the team’s ball movement.

It’s a very different looking team on for the second half, with Caitlin Thwaites, Steph Wood, Kim Ravaillion and Courtney Bruce all getting their first time on court at the Gold Coast.

Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett in action against Northern Ireland. Photo: Getty Imageso
Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett in action against Northern Ireland. Photo: Getty Imageso

Daniel Sankey 9.20pm: Aussie trio into women’s 50m breaststroke final

With a one-two-three finish in the first semi-final, Australians Georgia Bohl (30.92), Jessica Hansen (30.92) and Leiston Pickett (31.02) are through to the final of the women’s 50m breaststroke tomorrow night.

Bohl and Hansen couldn’t be separated at the end of 50m and will go through as the third and fourth-fastest qualifiers behind the pacesetters in the second semi-final, Alia Atkinson of Jamaica (30.53) and Sarah Vasey of England (30.75).

Pickett is the sixth-fastest qualifier, just one one-hundredth behind South African Tatjana Schoenmaker (31.01)

9.08pm: GOLD! Australia wins women’s team sprint

It’s a third Commonwealth Games gold medal at the Anna Meares Velodrome for Australia tonight, with Kaarle McCulloch and Stephanie Morton thrashing the New Zealand pair of Natasha Hansen and Emma Cumming.

With her former teammate Anna Meares watching on, McCulloch powered away on the last lap in a Commonwealth Games record time of 32.488 seconds.

It means Australia has picked up half the six gold medals on offer in the first day at the velodrome, with New Zealand (men’s team sprint), Scotland (Neil Fachie, men’s B&VI 1000m time trial) and England (Sophie Thornhill, women’s B&VI 1000m sprint final) picking up one gold each.

Australia also picked up a silver medal (Jessica Gallagher, women’s B&VI sprint final) and two bronze (men’s team sprint, women’s 4000m team pursuit) to round out a brilliant first day on the boards.

Kaarle McCulloch celebrates her gold medal. Photo: Getty Images
Kaarle McCulloch celebrates her gold medal. Photo: Getty Images

Daniel Sankey 9.02pm: Aussies through to 50m butterfly final

Australia’s Grant Irvine and David Morgan will swim for gold in the men’s 50m butterfly final after both progressed through their semi-finals tonight.

Irvine was the second-fastest qualifier for the final, winning the first semi-final in 23.79 seconds, while Morgan (24.17) was the eighth and final qualifier after finishing fourth in the second semi-final.

South Africa’s Chad Le Clos (23.53) was the fastest qualifier and will swim in lane four in the final, alongside Irvine in lane five.

Australia’s Grant Irvine is through to the final of the mens' 50m butterfly. Photo: AAP
Australia’s Grant Irvine is through to the final of the mens' 50m butterfly. Photo: AAP

Eric George 8.43pm: Diamonds being Games defence

Australia’s netball Diamonds have taken to the court to begin their gold medal defence against Northern Ireland.

The Aussies lead 18-6 in the first quarter against the northern minnows, who won three out of their six matches four years ago.

Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander told The Australian she was looking for three things from her players tonight: a strong start, full court defence forcing turnovers, and a polished, fluid passing game with the ball.

From goal keeper to goal shooter, the Diamonds have started with the following team on court: Laura Geitz, April Brandley, Gabi Simpson, Liz Watzon, Madi Robinson, Susan Pettitt and captain Caitlin Bassett.

It’s Geitz’s first competitive netball match at any level since 2016, after taking time away to have a child.

The Diamonds will be keen to run up the score after Jamaica and England both did the same in their matches earlier today.

Laura Geitz of Australia (left) and Oonagh McCullough of Northern Ireland battle for the ball during their netball match at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Getty Images
Laura Geitz of Australia (left) and Oonagh McCullough of Northern Ireland battle for the ball during their netball match at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Getty Images

8.37pm: WORLD RECORD! Aussies win 4000m men’s team pursuit

Australia has claimed the men’s team pursuit bragging rights from archrivals England with a world record ride to win gold on the opening night of track cycling at the Commonwealth Games.

Kelland O’Brien replaced Jordan Kerby in the quartet that qualified fastest earlier in the day, teaming with Leigh Howard, Alex Porter and Sam Welsford to win Australia’s second track gold at Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome.

Australia slowly overpowered the English riders and powered home in three minutes 49.804 seconds to shave nearly half a second off the 3:50.265 record which Great Britain set in Rio two years ago.

Australia's Alex Porter celebrates with teammates after his team's gold medal win and new world record in the men's 4000m team pursuit. Photo: AFP
Australia's Alex Porter celebrates with teammates after his team's gold medal win and new world record in the men's 4000m team pursuit. Photo: AFP

— AAP

Daniel Sankey 8.12pm: SILVER! Ruck terminates Ariarne

So close! Australia’s 17yo superstar in the making, Ariarne Titmus, failed by just 0.4 seconds to overhaul Canada’s Taylor Ruck in a thrilling finish to the women’s 200m freestyle.

Titmus, who will also compete in the 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle at these games, set a new PB of 1:54.85, just a touch behind Ruck (1:54.81) with Aussie defending champion Emma McKeon (1:56.25) taking the bronze.

McKeon took out the final hard, leading through 100m before Ruck took over on the third lap. Turning for home, Titmus was still a bodylength behind fellow 17-year-old Ruck, who did just enough to hold on for gold.

8pm: GOLD! Aussies win women’s team pursuit

Australia’s talent-stacked women’s team pursuit have made a statement with a dominant gold medal ride on the opening night of track cycling at the Commonwealth Games.

Ashlee Ankudinoff, Amy Cure, Annette Edmondson and Alexandra Manly clocked four minutes 15.214 seconds in the final to beat New Zealand by nearly 10 seconds at Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome.

In the event’s first Games appearance, the home team bettered their qualifying time by two seconds despite going the long way around while overtaking the New Zealand quartet on the final lap.

Australia’s victory comes two years after three of the current side were involved in a crash just three days out from competing in Rio’s Olympics. The team, who had entered as gold medal fancies, battled through injuries in Rio to manage fifth and have had their sights set on redemption at Tokyo 2020 since. Two-time world champion Rebecca Wiasak and 2016 Olympian Georgia Baker were both left out of the four-woman side, indicating the talent at the disposal of the the squad.

Canada narrowly beat England in the ride for bronze.

— AAP

Daniel Sankey 7.53pm: GOLD! Horton wins 400m

Australia has its first gold medal of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, with Mack Horton leading home an Australian quinella in the men’s 400m freestyle final.

Horton (3:43.76) secured Australia’s first swimming gold medal of the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a beautifully-paced race, coming home over the top of countryman Jack McLoughlin and England’s James Guy.

Guy led the field through 200m, going out under world record pace with McLoughlin on his shoulder and Horton a bodylength behind.

With 100m to go, Horton had narrowed the deficit to just 0.20 seconds before powering clear in the closing stages to win comfortably.

McLoughlin (3:45.21) edged out Guy in the battle for silver by just .11 seconds.

Daniel Sankey 7.45pm: Willmott turns tables on Miley

England’s Aimee Willmott turned the tables on two-time defending Commonwealth Games champion Scotland’s Hannah Miley to win gold in the women’s 400m individual medley.

Willmott won silver behind Miley in the event in Glasgow, and not only gained her revenge for that defeat, but also foiled Miley’s attempt to become just the third woman (after Susie O’Neill and Petria Thomas) to win the same event at three consecutive Commonwealth Games.

Australia’s Blair Evans, 27, stormed home to snatch the bronze medal, while her countrywoman Meg Bailey was seventh.

“I just put my head down and went for the wall ... that was for Bud,” Evans said, paying tribute to her coach Bud McAllister, who’s having treatment for a cyst on his brain.

Daniel Sankey 7.13pm: Swimming finals set to begin

Australia’s 400m freestyle Olympic gold medallist Mack Horton is not taking anything for granted in his Commonwealth Games final tonight, despite going in as the fastest qualifier and raging hot favourite.

Mack Horton wins his 400m freestyle heat this morning. Photo: Getty Images
Mack Horton wins his 400m freestyle heat this morning. Photo: Getty Images

Horton, who’ll follow the women’s 400m IM final featuring Australian teammates Meg Bailey and Blair Evans, told Channel 7 he had left enough in the tank to improve on his qualifying time of 3:47.93.

“I’m looking forward to swimming in front of this crowd tonight and really trying to ride the energy from that,” he said.

“I still have to bring my A-game tonight, there’s a lot of strong guys in there.”

Horton’s main opposition will come from Wales’ Daniel Jervis in lane five, fellow Aussies Jack McLoughlin and David McKeon (lanes three and six respectively) and England’s James Guy (lane two).

Also swimming for gold for Australia tonight are Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon and Leah Neale in the women’s 200m freestyle; George Harley and Matt Wilson in the men’s 200m breaststroke; and the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, led by Cate Campbell.

In the para-events, Daniel Fox, Mitchell Kilduff and Liam Schluter are in the men’s S14 freestyle final, while Tiffany Thomas Kane is in the women’s S7 50m butterfly.

6.23pm: Comm Games winner ... at 11

Eleven-year-old table tennis prodigy Anna Hursey has tasted victory in her first outing at the Commonwealth Games.

Hursey, the youngest athlete at the Games, partnered with Charlotte Carey today to claim a 3-2 win over Indian pair Madhurika Patkar and Mouma Das in the preliminary rounds of the team competition.

It was Wales’ only victory in the tie, however, as India claimed the best-of-five meeting 3-1.

Australia’s team started its campaign brightly with victories over Canada and Mauritius, highlighted by Tracey Feng’s epic five-game victory over Canadian Alicia Cote.

Anna Hursey of Wales on her way to victory in a pairs match of the table tennis teams competition. Photo: AAP
Anna Hursey of Wales on her way to victory in a pairs match of the table tennis teams competition. Photo: AAP

But all eyes were on Hursey, who is thought to be the youngest athlete to represent Wales at senior level in any sport.

Standing at 155cm and weighing 45kg, Hursey showed she also boasts a surprisingly fearsome forehand.

The schoolgirl unloaded several big winners and appeared to disrupt her opponents with her aggressive style.

Hursey had been scheduled to also compete in singles action before India took an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Wales will play their second preliminary match against Sri Lanka tomorrow.

— AAP

6.10pm: Hockeyroos edge Canada

The Hockeyroos have opened their Commonwealth Games defence with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Canada courtesy of a Jodie Kenny penalty stroke.

Kenny, who took a break following following the Rio Olympics to start a family, celebrated her return with the solitary goal at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre. Kenny’s penalty stroke in the second quarter was the difference against the 15th-ranked Canadians, who also had to overcome yellow cards in the second half as well as two injuries.

The fifth-ranked Australians, vying for their fourth straight Commonwealth gold medal, also needed two last-ditch saves from veteran goalkeeper Rachael Lynch to steal the win.

Canada pressed hard for an equaliser in the last term with two penalty corners, including a dramatic video referral.

But Australia held on and will hope to find rhythm in their next pool match against Ghana on Saturday.

— AAP

6pm: Costly slip-up for Aussies

A career-first mishap has relegated Australia’s men’s team sprint to a Commonwealth Games bronze medal ride-off, souring an otherwise dominant opening day at the track for the hosts.

Australian trio Patrick Constable, Matthew Glaetzer and Nathan Hart fancied their chances of taking down highly-rated New Zealand and England to claim gold for the first time in any international event since Delhi 2010. But Constable pulled his foot in a disastrous start, with his teammates seemingly unaware he had dropped off the back on the first turn at Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome.

Australia’s fast start was ruined and, despite the team earning a re-run after the incident was termed an official mishap, they could not back up fast enough to pip either rival for a spot in tonight’s gold medal ride.

“I’m pretty disappointed that we are going for third, I know we’re a lot better than that,” said Constable, who admitted it was the first time his foot had slipped in competition.

It came after Australia’s men’s and women’s team pursuit squads pushed their case for gold in tonight’s finals in dominant qualifying rides. The men broke their own Games record set four years ago to notch the fastest time ahead of the gold medal ride, while the women were five seconds faster than the field in the event’s Commonwealth debut.

Leigh Howard, Jordan Kerby, Alex Porter and Sam Welsford powered Australia into the gold medal ride with a time of three minutes 52.041 seconds, more than three seconds quicker than England.

In the first staging of the event, Australia’s women were more than five seconds faster than the field, with New Zealand pipping Canada by .153 for a spot in the gold medal ride-off.

Australia’s team sprint pairing of Kaarle McCulloch and Stephanie Morton then broke the Games record to comfortably qualify for the gold medal ride against New Zealand.

— AAP

5.50pm: Disgrace for the Kiwis

New Zealand’s men’s team pursuiters have been disqualified from the bronze-medal ride against Canada.

Regan Gough, Nick Kergozou, Campbell Stewart and Tom Sexton have been disqualified after a New Zealand bike was found not to meet specifications at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane.

The quartet had clocked 3min56.29sec and were sitting second until England’s 3:55.399 pushed them into third place before they were disqualified.

New Zealand’s men's 4000m team pursuit before their disqualification. Picture: Getty
New Zealand’s men's 4000m team pursuit before their disqualification. Picture: Getty

5.30pm: Going for goal

The Hockeyroos are having their first hitout of the Games, against one of the sport’s minnows, Canada.

The women’s national team dropped to fifth in the latest world rankings, behind trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand and three spots behind England.

But the team’s skipper Emily Smith says that means nothing to Hockeyroos fans when it comes to the Commonwealth Games, where Australia have won four gold medals from five attempts since the sport’s inclusion in 1998.

5.10pm: Costly slip

Drama in the men’s team sprint qualifying event, in the velodrome, for Australia’s team of Pat Constable, Matt Glaetzer, Nathan Hart and Jacob Schmid.

Constable has a mechanical issue in the heat, as his foot slips out of the pedal, which means the Australian team are unable to complete their run.

After some uncertainty about whether they will be granted a re-run, it becomes apparent that they will be.

However, they are unable to reach the gold-medal ride-off, qualifying third. New Zealand and England will race for the ultimate prize, while the locals will take on Canada for bronze.

4.50pm: Winning habit

Games debutante Christine Nunn is the first Australian through to squash’s round of 16 on the Gold Coast after beating Maltese competitor Dianne Kellas in straight games.

Nunn is one of six locals in the singles draw, with the remaining five due to take the court later on today, including Australian No.1 Donna Urquhart. Nunn, Tamika Saxby, Zac Alexander and Rex Hedrick are all appearing in their first Games.

The men’s singles competition has featured an epic five-game match between Australia’s Rex Hedrick and Eain Yow Ng, from Malaysia. Hendrick survived 13-11, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 to reach the last 32.

4.35pm: Flying finish

Qualifying has wrapped up in the men’s 4000m cycling teams pursuit and Australia will ride for gold against England.

The top qualifiers came home in a time of 3min52.04sec, 3.55sec ahead of the England team. New Zealand’s foursome was about a second further back, while Canada will ride for bronze after rounding out the top four.

4.20pm: India on the board

India has its first gold medal of the Games, after a win for Chanu Saikhom Mirabai in the women’s 48kg weightlifting competition.

Mirabai beat Mauritius lifter Marie Hanitra Roilya Ranaivosoa and Sri Lanka’s Dinusha Gomes.

4.05pm: ‘It was terrible’

England’s invincible Brownlee brothers have opened up after their triathlon disappointment, as for the first time since before the London Olympics in 2012, a Games triathlon podium was without one of them, AAP reports.

Double Olympic gold medallist and Commonwealth champion Alistair faded badly to finish 10th, while his understudy Jonny also fell off the leading pack to come seventh, more than half a minute behind South African gold medallist Henri Schoeman.

Jonny, who has followed his big brother home to pick up Olympic bronze and silver and a Commonwealth silver over the past six years, knew they’d struggle after injuries marred both their preparations.

“It was pretty terrible today,” Jonny said. “At the start of the day I didn’t feel great ... I felt weak in the swim .. I’m normally stronger on the bike ... I started running and felt ‘oh dear, I’m in trouble here’.”

England's Alistair Brownlee at the finish line of the triathlon. Picture: AFP
England's Alistair Brownlee at the finish line of the triathlon. Picture: AFP

Alistair recovered well from hip surgery last year with a win in Dubai in February but a calf muscle has restricted his running since.

After leading out of the swim and bike legs, he recorded the 11th fastest 5km run, quickly finding himself in unfamiliar territory among the also rans. “I knew I was going to struggle on the run,” he said. “I’ve only run a handful of times for the last month.

“I’ve had a lot of luck over the years, just ran out of it today.”

Jonny, who was alongside Alistair in the lead pack as they climbed off their bikes, said he wasn’t surprised when he passed his brother early in the run leg. “I know what training he’s done, he knows what training he’s done,” he said. “He’s done as much running in the last month that most people do in a week.”

But Jonny has also been restricted by leg injuries, missing around six weeks of training since January and also faded to leave the family without an Olympic or Commonwealth medal for the first time since they started competing internationally.

They still have a chance to collect a medal in the mixed relay on Saturday.

3.50pm: Up and at em

The royal Twitter account for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall has produced a flurry of tweets, suggesting that the Commonwealth Games special guests are awake, alert and very much in the mood for fun at the Gold Coast showpiece.

3.30pm: Records tumble in velodrome

England’s Sophie Thornhill has broken the tandem sprint world record just moments after Australian Jessica Gallagher had bettered her own mark. Para-cyclist Thornhill clocked 10.609 seconds to set the new mark during qualifying at Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome immediately after Gallagher’s 10.954 ride.

Both smashed the previous record of 11.045, set by Gallagher and pilot Madi Janssen two years ago, creating a brilliant rematch tonight to decide track cycling’s first medal.

Australia’s four-woman team in the 4000m pursuit will ride for gold against New Zealand after setting a Games record in the qualifying round.

The Australian team finished a mammoth five seconds ahead of the Kiwis with a time of 4min17.21sec.

The gold-medal race will be held tonight, as will the bronze-medal showdown between Canada and England.

Jamie Walker 3pm: Camilla ‘shattered’ not bored

The Duchess of Cornwall has bounced back after the, ahem, mixed reviews of her performance at last night’s Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

The debate over whether Camilla was royally bored or just jetlagged was still running online and on radio talkback when she stepped out with Prince Charles at the crack of 11.30am.

The couple returned to Games’ central on the Gold Coast to tour the athletes’ village, Camilla wearing a smile and a comfortably loose three quarter-length top and white pants, the Prince of Wales wielding an umbrella against the rain showers.

They were met, again, by the Turnbulls after sharing the podium last night with the Prime Minister and wife Lucy. Keen to show she was a sport, Camilla teamed up with Mrs Turnbull for an impromptu hit of table tennis in the athletes’ rec room with Australian boxers Caitlin Parker and Anja Stridsman.

Before joining her husband to pose with a statue of the Games’ mascot, Borobi the blue koala, she joked: “Should I give him a pat?”

Prince Charles and wife Camilla at the opening ceremony. Picture: AAP
Prince Charles and wife Camilla at the opening ceremony. Picture: AAP

Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin defended the 70-year-old Duchess’s apparent brain fade during the opening ceremony, when she was caught on camera listlessly flicking through a program booklet instead of watching the action.

A “shattered” Camilla had been struggling with jetlag, Ms Martin insisted.

Asked if organisers could have done more to hold the Duchess’s attention, she said: “She did full duty right through and the only time she got a break was when she sat in the car from Brisbane down to here.

“Then she got 20 minutes’ to change before she went to another reception. When you’re back to back like that, coming off a long-haul flight ... and she literally hates flying ... she really wanted to go to sleep.”

Hopefully, the lie-in today helped. They have another big program of engagements, including a date on the beach with nippers and lifesavers and, for Prince Charles, separate talks with Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

Tonight, Camilla will attend the cycling at the Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane while Charles watches the swimming at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

2.35pm: Boxing clever

Australian boxer Terry Nickolas has scored a convincing win in his opening bout in the 69kg weight division, beating Carl Hield from the Bahamas in all three rounds for a unanimous decision. The 25-year-old dished out plenty of punishment to his opponent, landing blows at will. He moves safely into the final 16.

Nicole Jeffery 2.15pm: ‘Too much’ to snatch gold

Australia’s Jake Birtwhistle has spoken about his gallant effort to claim silver in the triathlon.

“I’m super happy with that,’’ he said. “I would have liked to go one spot better, I guess, but today those guys up the front on the swim-bike were just too much.

“It kind of left it up to the run and I was able to make my way up to second. It’s such a weight of my shoulders now to have crossed that line and have a good result.”

Fellow Australian Matt Hauser, who hails from Hervey Bay but now lives and trains on the Gold Coast, said the crowd lifted him over the closing stages of the race.

“I almost got to third but I’m still super-stoked with fourth, being my first major Games.

“I was at home out there, I absolutely loved every minute of it. That’s why I love the sport of triathlon. It’s a reflection of what’s to come for the Aussies, I think.’’

Birtwhistle, at 23, led a fresh young team into the Games and believes this has been a new dawn for the Australian men’s team.

“This is the start of something special, I think,’’ he said.

“Myself, Matt and Luke (Willian), we’re all pretty young in this sport and this is just the start. Moving on from here I’m sure you will see more of us.’’

Jacob Birtwhistle, left, and team mate Matthew Hauser after the triathlon. Picture: AAP
Jacob Birtwhistle, left, and team mate Matthew Hauser after the triathlon. Picture: AAP

Nicole Jeffery 1.55pm: Birtwhistle storms home for silver

Tasmanian Jake Birtwhistle has won Australia’s first medal of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, charging through the field late to grab the silver medal in the men’s triathlon.

South African Olympic bronze medallist Henri Schoeman claimed the gold medal after burning off the front pack in the early stages of the 5km run, while noted runner Birtwhistle came from 29 seconds down at the start of the run to pass six of the leading contenders, including Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, the Olympic champion and silver medallists and dash onto the medal podium.

Australia had two men in the top four as 20-year-old world junior champion Matt Hauser thrived in his senior international debut, racing with the leaders throughout the day to finish just behind the medallists.

Daniel Sankey 1.21pm: Hauser in breakaway in triathlon

Australia’s Matthew Hauser is in a breakaway group of six halfway through the bike leg in the men’s triathlon.

Hauser, race favourites Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee, Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk, New Zealand’s Tayler Reid, South Africa’s Henri Schoeman and Scotland’s Mark Austin have a 22-second lead over the chasing riders.

All competitors are being forced to exercise caution in wet and rainy conditions at the Southport Parklands.

Wally Mason 1.08pm: Pearson confirms withdrawal

Sally Pearson has confirmed her withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games due to an achilles injury.

She told a press conference moments ago:

“I am here to announce I will pull out of the Australian Commonwealth Games athletics team in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m hurdles and the 4x100 m relay due to an Achilles issue that has been around for quite some time and has flared up,” Pearson said.

“That is my decision, obviously I’m very disappointed but I am happy to be here to support the Australian athletics team, and the Australian team as well.”

Pearson said she knew earlier in the week she would not be able to compete.

“Two days ago, I was at a training session. I went there with full confidence — if you were here last week, in Brisbane, I raced in the competition, it was obvious I was in good shape and racing fast,” she said.

“I went to training, as planned, after the competition, I trained well in Brisbane at the camp, still very confident.

“A few days after that I came out to the Village and did another training session, full of confidence warming up. Then I went into some hurdle drills and run-throughs, just could not do it.

“The thing with the Achilles tendon is they spark very quickly. This has been ongoing for a couple of years and it is unfortunate the timing is now. My health comes first.

“I wanted to be able to go to the Opening Ceremony and enjoy myself, I had a big role to play, it is why I left it until today to announce it.”

Australian hurdler Sally Pearson announces her withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games. Photo: AAP
Australian hurdler Sally Pearson announces her withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games. Photo: AAP

Nicole Jeffery 12.56pm: Wet start for men’s tri

It looks like we will have a wet start for the men’s triathlon.

The weather has swept in in the last 15 minutes and a heavy shower has just hit the course at Broadwater Parklands in Southport.

The 20km cycling leg is already quite a technical course so the rain will make it treacherous. The contenders will have to be quite wary as any crash will ruin medal hopes.

English brothers Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee are the raging gold medal favourites, while Jacob Birstwhistle is considered the leading hope for the host nation, which is also represented by Matthew Hauser and Luke Willian.

Wayne Smith 12.48pm: Titmus, McKeon on target

Emma McKeon’s quest for six Commonwealth Games medals at the Gold Coast began brilliantly today on the opening day in the pool, while Tasmanian Ariane Titmus confirmed yet again that she is rising star of Australian swimming.

McKeon, who won silver in the 200m freestyle at the world titles in Budapest last year, had convinced herself that she was prepared to settle for second place in her heat when she found herself just a shade behind Taylor Ruck of Canada today. But then the competitive juices kicked in and the 23-year-old went down through the hears and powered to the wall to win in 1:57.40, just .04 ahead of her rival.

Her time was just .38sec of a second slower than Titmus who, in the shortest of her three freestyle races, looked to have no problem at all with speed as she led her heat throughout to win in 1.57.02, leading home fellow Australian Leah Neale (1.59.18).

For someone who is only 17, Titmus handled her first Commonwealth Games swim with all the poise of an established veteran, using the crowd as she did the “crazy” scenes in Budapest last year when she let the spectators ease her through the first 50m of her 400m race without using up excess energy.

“If you used the crowd smartly it can help me have an easy-paced first 50,” Titmus said.

Not even her Dad is able to able to break her now-legendary concentration and while she often shows her photos of herself in the newspaper, she merely nods sweetly and them basically ignores the distraction.

McKeon had only three events to recover before she lined up for the 100m butterfly and admitted that she had had to recheck the program this morning just to determine what was required of her.

“I looked at the program this morning and kind of knew what I wanted to do to be able to make it into the semis and that’s all I needed to do,” she said.

“I’m taking one race at a time and also swimming smart, not expending too much energy. I did that for the 100m butterfly and now I have to recover for the 200m freestyle. I think I can recover quite quickly because this is the first day of the meet. This is my hardest day (with up to five swims scheduled) so it will get easier from here.

“It would be great to swim well in front of my home crowd but mainly my expectations come from myself.”

Other Australians including Olympic champion Mack Horton (400m freestyle), Mitch Larkin (100m backstroke), Jack McLoughlin (400m freestyle), Leiston Pickett (50m breaststroke), Madeline Groves (100m butterfly) and Meg Bailey (400m individual medley) were among heat winners.

Wayne Smith 12.38pm: Larkin back to his best

Mitch Larkin looked to be back to his best form of three years ago as he powered to a commanding win in the 100m backstroke today to lead the qualifyers into the tonight’s semi-finals.

Australia's Mitch Larkin in his heat today. Photo: AFP
Australia's Mitch Larkin in his heat today. Photo: AFP

Now 24, Larkin looked to have the world at his feet when he captured the backstroke double at the 2015 Kazan world championships but since then he has struggled to get back to his best, taking silver at the Rio Olympics in the 200m backstroke and managing only a relay bronze at last year’s worlds in Budapest.

His time today wasn’t all that impressive but then, as the Sunshine Coast swimmer said after the race, he doesn’t ever worry about where the stopwatch and what it reads.

“We’re here to race. And my time (54.02sec) was good enough to get me through to the top 16.”

That is almost two second adrift of his best time but given that he virtually shut down 10m from the wall and stopped kicking, knowing he had Englishman Luke Greenbank (54.62) well beaten. The other Australian in the race, Brad Woodward, hung on gamely to finish third in the heat in 54.71sec.

Australia’s three 50m breastsrokers, Leiston Pickett (30.87), Jessica Hansen (30.93) and Georgina Bohl (31.00) qualified second, fourth and sixth fastest in their events today — duplicating how they had placed in the Australian trials.

England’s Sarah Vesey led the field into the semis with an impressive swim of 30.77sec.

Daniel Sankey 12.26pm: Liao seventh in 56kg weightlighting

Australia’s Phillip Liao has lifted a combined total of 205kg (91kg snatch, 114kg clean and jerk) to place seventh in the men’s 56kg in the first weightlifting event of the Commonwealth Games.

Liao, who missed an attempt at 113kg before upping the weight and successfully lifting 114kg in the clean and jerk, finished a combined 56kg behind the new Commonwealth Games record set by Malaysia’s Azroy Muhammad Hazalwafie .

Azroy also set a new Games record in the snatch, successfully lifting 117kg before a fail at 119kg. He then clean and jerked 144kg after successful lifts of 135kg and 138kg.

India’s Gururaja Poojary (111kg, 138kg; 249kg) took silver from Sri Lanka’s Chaturanga Lakmal (114kg, 134kg; 248kg).

Daniel Sankey 12.22pm: Can Wilson beat Murdoch?

Scotland’s Ross Murdoch will be a red-hot gold medal favourite in tonight’s men’s 200m breaststroke final ... but Australia’s Matt Wilson has promised he won’t die wondering after winning his own heat this morning.

Wilson comfortably controlled heat one of the men’s 200m breaststroke, winning in 2:09.74. That’s around a second behind Murdoch’s 2:08.77 to win heat three, but right in the medal hunt nonetheless.

Fellow Aussie George Harley qualified sixth fastest for tonight’s final in 2:11.62, but Zac Stubblety-Cook (2:15.71) was eliminated.

Daniel Sankey 12.17pm: Three through in butterfly

Australia will have a three-pronged attack team in tonight’s women’s 100m butterfly semi-finals, with Brianna Throssell, Madeline Groves and Emma McKeon all safely through after this morning’s heats.

Throssell won heat one in a time of 58.96 seconds, while Groves (57.77) and McKeon (58.04) — less than an hour after winning her 200m freestyle — dominated heat three.

Wally Mason 12.12pm: ‘That’s a nonsense story’: Beattie

Commonwealth Games boss Peter Beattie has rejected suggestions that Sally Pearson was never a chance to compete in the Games due to her achilles injury.

Sally Pearson walks her leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Surfers Paradise yesterday. Photo: Jerad Williams
Sally Pearson walks her leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Surfers Paradise yesterday. Photo: Jerad Williams

Pearson is set to announce her withdrawal at a press conference at 1pm, amid suggestions that she has known for some time she would not be able to run but kept it under wraps because of her role as a games ambassador.

“That’s a nonsense story,” Beattie said this morning.

“That’s rubbish. That’s not us. We wouldn’t do that. She’s a legend. We would have loved her to be there. It’s up to her.”

The 31-year-old has been under a cloud for months with the nagging injury, which has limited here training, and she is believed to have aggravated it during a 100m relay session with her 4x100m teammates last week.

However she continued to carry out her role as a Games ambassador, making a series of promotional appearances and taking part in the final stages of the Queen’s baton relay yesterday before taking part in last night’s opening ceremony.

Pearson wasn’t able to run in her leg of the baton relay, but was reluctant to talk about her fitness.

Daniel Sankey 12.07pm: No backing out now

No problems for Australia’s 100m backstroke medal hopes Mitch Larkin, Bradley Woodward and Benjamin Treffers, who are all through to tonight’s semi-finals.

Larkin, the gold medal favourite, dominated heat three to win in 54.02 seconds ... a full six-tenths ahead of England’s Luke Greenbank (54.62) and Woodward (54.71).

Treffers (55.30) finished second in heat one, behind England’s Elliot Clogg (55.08), to earn his place in the semis.

Daniel Sankey 12pm: Three Aussies into semis

Leiston Pickett, Jessica Hansen and Georgia Bohl are safely through to tonight’s semi-finals of the women’s 50m breaststroke.

Pickett won her heat in 30.87 to be the second-fastest qualifier into the semis behind England’s Sarah Vasey, who won heat 3 in 30.77 seconds ahead of Hansen (30.93) and Bohl (31.00).

Daniel Sankey 11.49am: Proud DQ’d in butterfly

The reigning world champion in the men’s 50m butterfly, Ben Proud of England, was stunningly disqualified from the one-lap dash after moving on the blocks.

Proud won his heat by almost a bodylength — an astonishing margin in a one-lap event — but as he turned around to check the scoreboard he had concern written all over his face and, sure enough, his time was withheld.

Replays showed that Proud has moved fractionally on the blocks, akin to how Cate Campbell’s start in the Rio Olympic final when judges cleared her, but there was no comeback for the Englishman who last year caused one of the major upsets of the Budapest world titles when he clinched the 50m butterfly gold in 22.75 seconds.

He proved in Budapest, when he came from fourth in the semis to win gold, that nothing can be taken for granted but so comfortable did he appear in the event this morning that it is clear that he — and England — have lost themselves a gold medal, with South African Chad le Clos, the 2012 200m butterfly Olympic champion, now leading the way with a swim of 23.53 seconds.

Australia’s Grant Irvine, who along with countryman David Morgan is safely through to tonight’s semi-finals, admitted shock at Proud’s DQ.

“If he’s out, the field is very much open to everyone now,” he told host broadcaster Channel 7.

The BBC summed it up for all of England when it described Proud’s disqualification as “absolutely gutting”.

Wayne Smith 11.40am: Big Mack to lead Aussie haul?

Australia’s domination of the men’s 400m freestyle was confirmed when reigning Olympic champion Mack Horton led through team-mates David McKeon and first heat winner Jack McLoughlin into tonight’s final.

McLoughlin, 23, the shock winner of the 1500m freestyle at the trials, set the tone when he took out the first head in 3:48.31 from England’s former world 200m freestyle champion James Guy. But all eyes were locked on Horton’s head and he didn’t disappoint as he led all the way to win in 3:47.93 with McKeon admitting that he had eased up over the final to qualify in an outside lane half second further behind.

Horton admitted that the pool temperature had been much cooler than during the trials when he had been inconvenienced but was disappointed to learn that Australia had not won the 400m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games since 2002.

“Damn, the pressure is now on,” he quipped.

Australia's Mack Horton, right, talks with compatriot David McKeon after their men's 400m freestyle heat. Photo: AP
Australia's Mack Horton, right, talks with compatriot David McKeon after their men's 400m freestyle heat. Photo: AP

But it was McKeon who sprung the major surprise when he revealed that since November he had been carrying a shoulder injury that may require surgery once the Games are over.

“I don’t like to make excuses and I haven’t said anything about but I really wasn’t supposed to be here,” said McKeon.

Asked about the possibility of surgery, McKeon admitted he would have to consult with his coach, Michael Bohl and make a determination.

“I still believe I have so much to prove as a swimmer. I’m told I have the shoulders at 25 of a bricklayer who’s 50.”

And he knows what can come of swimming-related shoulder injuries as his mother Susie can barely raise her arms to shoulder level after years of swimming under Bill Sweetenham. And his father, Ron, surely has tales to tell of his own after winning the 400m freestyle himself at the 1978 Edmonton Conmmonwealth Games.

11.34am: Pearson press conference at 1pm

There are still sensational athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games even if track superstar Sally Pearson is out, Gold Coast Games bosses say.

Just as action was getting underway on day one of the Games today, the defending 100m hurdles champion was understood to have told her teammates she had been unable to recover from an Achilles injury in time.

She has scheduled a media conference at 1pm (AEST) with her team doctor, Commonwealth Games CEO Mark Peters said without speculating about Pearson’s announcement, it was safe to say fans would still see world class athletes competing at the Gold Coast Games.

Australian hurdler Sally Pearson hands the Queen's Baton to Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Chairman Peter Beattie during last night’s Opening Ceremony. Photo: AAP
Australian hurdler Sally Pearson hands the Queen's Baton to Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Chairman Peter Beattie during last night’s Opening Ceremony. Photo: AAP

— AAP

Wayne Smith 11.20am: McKeown’s shock failure

There was devastation for Kaylee McKeown in her first Commonwealth Games swim as she swam seven seconds outside her personal best to miss the final of the women’s 400m individual medley at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre this morning.

Things were looking rosy for Australia in the opening event on the Games program when Megan Bailey (4:41.51) and Blair Evans (4:51.54) swam perfectly judged races to place first and second in the opening heat, but it became clear from the moment McKeown dived into the pool that something was wrong with 16-year-old.

She dropped behind in the opening leg of butterfly, made up a little ground through her favourite backstroke leg but left herself too much work to do — and with two-times Commonwealth Games champion Hannah Miley of Scotland clearing out in front with England’s Amy Willmott and Sarah Darcel of Canada in hot pursuit, it was clearly beyond her. She finished in fourth place in 4.46.13, her 4:39.14 in the Australian selection trials a distant memory.

Kaylee McKeown in the butterfly leg of the women’s 400m IM heats. Photo: Getty Images
Kaylee McKeown in the butterfly leg of the women’s 400m IM heats. Photo: Getty Images

Daniel Sankey 11.10am: Titmus, McKeon in gold fight

The women’s 200m freestyle looks set to be a race in two between Australia’s Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon, who both won their heats to advance as the fastest qualifiers for tonight’s final.

Titmus, who’ll also compete in the 400m and 800m freestyle at these games, was most impressive in heat two, winning in 1:57.02 from fellow Australian Leah Neale (1:58.91).

In the following heat, defending gold medallist McKeon just edged out Canada’s Taylor Ruck to win in 1:57.40.

Neale also goes through to the final as the sixth-fastest qualifier.

Daniel Sankey 10.59am: Horton powers into final

Australia’s Rio Olympics gold medallist Mack Horton has cruised into the final of the men’s 400m freestyle, swimming within himself to win heat two in a time of 3:47.93, just ahead of Welshman Daniel Jervis (3:48.18) and another Aussie, David McKeon (3:48.86).

Australia’s third competitor in the event, Jack McLoughlin, won the first heat in 3:48.31.

It means Horton will swim in lane four in tonight’s final, with McKeon next to him in lane three and McLoughlin in lane six.

“I think everyone was just trying to do what they had to do to get through tonight,” Horton said, saying he’d kept a little in the tank for tonight’s final.

Nicole Jeffery 10.54am: Swim team adopts ‘Cooee’

The Australian swimming team has adopted the Rio Paralympic team’s “Cooee’’ cry to rally their athletes at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

At the Rio Paralympics in 2016, the Australian team adopted the call to announce their presence and support their teammates as they were about to step onto the blocks in the aquatic centre.

It replaced the dreaded “Aussie, Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” as the chant of choice for the athletes and their supporters.

The Para-swimmers who are in the Commonwealth Games team, following the inclusion of Paralympic events in the program, have taken the idea to their teammates in the combined national team.

At their last team meeting before competition began today, the Australian swimming team’s leadership group proposed to adopt the call and the swimmers planned to begin using it in today’s first heats session.

Daniel Sankey 10.50am: Bailey, Evans through in 400m IM

Australia’s Meg Bailey and Blair Evans are through to the final of the women’s 400m individual medley after a one-two finish in their heat.

Bailey (4:41.51) just edged Evans (4:41.54) to win the first of two heats. They will swim in lanes three and six respectively, with heat two winner, Scotland’s Hannah Miley (4:38.20), taking lane four from England’s Aimee Willmott (4:39.19), who’ll swim from lane three.

Australia’s other entrant, 16-year-old Kaylee McKeown, finished fourth in the second heat in 4:46.13 but as the ninth overall qualifier, failed to make the final.

Nicole Jeffery 10.35am: Duffy wins first gold of Games

World champion Flora Duffy became the first woman from Bermuda in history to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal on the Gold Coast today.

Flora Duffy of Bermuda celebrates on her way to winning gold in the women's triathlon. Photo: Getty Images
Flora Duffy of Bermuda celebrates on her way to winning gold in the women's triathlon. Photo: Getty Images

In the first medal event of the Games, Duffy, who has barely lost a race in the past year, dominated the field, which included five of the top ten ranked women in the world.

She crossed the finish line in 56min50sec, 43 seconds clear of England’s silver medallist Jessica Learmonth, while Canada’s Joanna Brown took the bronze medal a further five seconds behind.

Ashleigh Gentle, who had hoped to be on the medal podium in her hometown, was the first Australian home in fifth place, but Duffy had control of the race from start to finish.

At the start of the 750m swim she tucked in behind England’s Jessica Learmonth, the best swimmer in the field, and drafted behind her, staying close enough to combine with her and gap the field when they began the 20km cycle.

The two leaders worked hard on the bike and created a lead of more than a minute over the chasing pack of 11 athletes, which included the three Australians Gentle, Charlotte McShane and Gillian Backhouse.

Duffy took command as they began the 5km run, striding away from Learmonth, and with a 1min12sec advantage over the rest of the field.

Gentle, arguably the best runner in the field, was in a pack of four athletes jockeying for the bronze medal for the first half of the run but the leading Australian faded late and was unable to take advantage of her normally blistering running speed.

She said she was disappointed that she couldn’t win a medal for her country but her best weapon did not fire today.

“Those girls go hard from the gun and Flora and Jess have done that a number of times last year on the World Series circuit so it wasn’t unexpected. We wanted to reduce the gap as much as possible but unfortunately that didn’t happen,” Gentle said.

“I was a little bit slow getting on my bike but I was there with the two other Australians and some of the English girls but unfortunately we couldn’t bring the gap in.’’

Daniel Sankey 10.27am: Victory for Murphy in women’s bowls

Australia’s Karen Murphy has opened her Commonwealth Games campaign in the lawn bowls women’s singles with a comfortable 21-4 victory over Tonga’s Malia Kioa.

Murphy will be back in action tomorrow against Zambia’s Gertrude Siame.

Daniel Sankey 10.23am: Gentle’s medal hopes fade

Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle faces an uphill battle to win a bronze medal for Australia in the women’s triathlon.

With 2km to run, Gentle has fallen off the back of what’s now a race in two for the bronze medal between England’s Vicky Holland and Canada’s Joanna Brown.

Bermuda’s Flora Duffy continues to lead, and now has a big gap to second placed Englishwoman Jessica Learmonth.

Daniel Sankey 10.12am: Aussies battle for medals

Ashleigh Gentle, Charlotte McShane and Gillian Backhouse are stil right in the medal hunt going into the 5km run leg of the women’s triathlon.

However, they face a task to overhaul world number one Flora Duffy and England’s Jessica Learmonth, who have established a lead of more than a minute on the chasing pack that includes the three Australians.

10.02am: Aussie swimmers begin campaign

All eyes will be on the Australian swimming team when they attempt to “set the tone” for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games when competition begins at 10.30am today.

The Dolphins claimed 19 of Australia’s 49 gold at the 2014 Glasgow Games ... and they are again under enormous pressure to kick-start Australia’s campaign at a home Games.

Mack Horton is in action in the 400m freestyle today. Photo: Getty Images
Mack Horton is in action in the 400m freestyle today. Photo: Getty Images

Olympic 400m freestyle champion Mack Horton, golden girl Emma McKeon and former world record holder Cate Campbell will lead the local charge by trying to inspire three of the five able-bodied gold on offer in day one action. Horton is tipped to claim Australia’s first gold in the pool in the 400m freestyle final after his shock Rio success.

Australian swimming’s ironwoman McKeon will launch a marathon program when she looks to defend her 200m freestyle crown.

McKeon is vying for six gold in an epic program that includes five races on day one alone.

And Campbell, back with a vengeance from a 2017 sabbatical, is expected to spark Australia’s all conquering 4x100m freestyle team to gold — and just maybe another world record.

Former world champion Campbell led Australia to Rio 4x100m relay gold — and a new world record — before her campaign fell apart.

Australia were last beaten in the Commonwealth Games pool in 1978. The Dolphins grabbed their biggest Games pool medal haul at 2014 Glasgow with 57 medals.

— AAP

Brent Read 9.52am: Pearson set to withdraw

Sally Pearson has called a press conference for later today amid speculation she is ready to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games through injury.

Pearson, controversially overlooked for flag bearing duties, will hold a media call at 1pm along with head coach Craig Hilliard and Australian Athletics team doctor Paul Blackman.

The 2012 Olympic champion was the favourite to win the gold medal in the 100 metres hurdle.

However, she has been battling an Achilles problem in the lead-up to the games and the expectation is that she will announce her withdrawal later today.

Read the full story here.

Sally Pearson during the Commonwealth Games baton relay yesterday. Photo: Nigel Hallett
Sally Pearson during the Commonwealth Games baton relay yesterday. Photo: Nigel Hallett

Daniel Sankey 9.48am: Amazing comeback by Aussies

The lawn bowls competition is already underway, with Australia in action in the men’s triples against Jersey.

It was a less than ideal start for Aron Sherriff, Barrie Lester and Nathan Rice as they found themselves down 8-0.

However, they’ve made a sensational comback, getting back to 7-8 before snatching four shots on the seventh end to take an 11-8 lead.

Daniel Sankey 9.42am: Learmonth leads triathlon

England’s Jessica Learmonth is the first out of the water after the 750m swim in the women’s triathlon, but she’s being closely followed by race favourite and world number one, Flora Duffy of Bermuda.

The Aussies are well-placed, with Ashleigh Gentle in sixth and Charlotte McShane and Gillian Backhouse not far behind.

Daniel Sankey 9.30am: Women’s triathlon underway

We’re underway in the women's triathlon, with Australia represented by world number two Ashleigh Gentle, Charlotte McShane and Gillian Backhouse.

Don’t expect Gentle to be setting the pace in the swim as it’s her weakest event — but expect her to come into the race in the bike and run legs.

If Gentle does win, remember where you read it first...

Rachel Baxendale 9.10am: Turnbull defends opening ceremony

Malcolm Turnbull has defended the Commonweath Games opening ceremony, advising Australians not to read comments on social media criticising the focus on indigenous culture.

Broadcaster Alan Jones slammed the “symbolism” of last night’s ceremony as “rubbish and an insult” to all Australians, taking particular umbrage at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags being raised alongside the Australian flag.

The Gold Coast ceremony featured Migaloo the white whale, kombi vans and beach culture, as well as indigenous creation stories, a didgeridoo orchestra, and performances from artists including Christine Anu, Delta Goodrem and Katie Noonan.

Mr Turnbull said he thought the ceremony was “brilliant”.

“I thought Migaloo was great, I thought Delta Goodrem and Katie Noonan were great,” the Prime Minister told the Seven Network.

“I also thought the big beach tableau I guess at the beginning, it had everybody out on the beach, with the picnic umbrellas and so forth.

“It was fantastic. It was brilliant, and the laser show was brilliant at the end too.”

Asked by Seven Network host David Koch what he had to say to “all the grumpy guts out there”, including on social media, who were criticising the focus on indigenous culture, Mr Turnbull said: “Don’t read it”.

“If you want to stay sane, do not read all that negative stuff,” he said.

“Social media is dominated by negativity, particularly Twitter. So stay happy, don’t read it.”

Asked whether he could honestly say he did not read comments on social media, Mr Turnbull said: “I keep an eye on it, but do I go scrolling through Twitter and Facebook comments? No.

“You have to be aware of it, but I think there’s a lot of anger there, which I think a lot of it is put on.”

Broadcaster Alan Jones was one commentator to slam the opening ceremony, describing it as a disgrace.

“This was an opportunity to celebrate Australia. Aboriginal Australians are not the whole story, they’re part of Australia’s history. A history meant which is meant to be shared with all of us,” he said.

Mr Turnbull said the people he had met on the Gold Coast were all enjoying themselves, and Australians should celebrate their successes.

‘You’ve got to recognise that we have got so much going for us. Confidence, optimism, positivity, glass half full, not half empty. That’s the right approach,” he said.

Seven Network host Samantha Armytage joked that everyone wanted to take up the Greens’ proposal of “going on the dole and moving to the beach” after the party yesterday called for the introduction of universal basic income.

“Someone will have to pay for it, though,” Mr Turnbull said.

The Prime Minister also revealed he and wife Lucy had shared news of the birth of his fourth grandchild with Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, as they watched the ceremony together last night.

“Our son Alex, his wife Yvonne had a little boy yesterday. It’s great. I’m really excited,” Mr Turnbull said.

He said the Duchess of Cornwall had “enjoyed the spectacle” of the ceremony.

“I showed her pictures of the new grandchild,” he said.

“She and the Prince both thought he looked terrific so I have passed that on to my son and his wife in Singapore. They have got royal approval.”

Asked whether Prince Charles had a sense of humour, Mr Turnbull said: “very much so.”

“He’s really got a great sense of humour. He’s got a very dry, droll English sense of humour.”

Mr and Mrs Turnbull are due to tour the athletes’ village with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall this morning, before engaging in private discussions.

A scene from last night’s 2018 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: AP
A scene from last night’s 2018 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: AP

Daniel Sankey 8.15am: Worth their weight in gold?

The weightlifting competition kicks off this morning with the men’s 56kg division, in which Malaysia’s Commonwealth champion Azroy Muhammad Hazalwafie is a strong favourite.

Azroy is the top-ranked participant in the event with a 114kg snatch and 138kg clean and jerk for a 252kg total.

His main challengers will be Sri Lanka’s Chaturanga Lakmal (110kg, 130kg; 240kg), Fiji’s Manuel Tulo (105kg, 135kg; 240kg) and India’s Gururaja Poojary (107kg, 137kg; 244kg).

Australia’s Phillip Liao is an outside medal chance in the event. Liao comes in with qualifying marks of 85kg in the snatch and 104kg in the clean and jerk, but if he can beat his previous personal bests of 100kg and 127kg, he could find himself on the podium.

Phillip Liao's snatch and clean and jerk personal bests, as featured on the Australian Weightlifting Federation website.
Phillip Liao's snatch and clean and jerk personal bests, as featured on the Australian Weightlifting Federation website.

Daniel Sankey 7.55am: Hockeyroos face tall order

Australia’s women’s hockey team kicks off its Commonwealth Games campaign against Canada today — and while they’re near unbackable ($1.08) favourites for today’s match, bookmakers it’s a much closer contest in the battle for gold.

The Hockeyroos are currently the number five-ranked nation in the world, behind the Netherlands, England, Argentina and New Zealand.

The significant advantage of playing in front of their home fans has only prompted bookmakers to make the Hockeyroos the $3 equal favourites for the tournament, along with England and New Zealand.

If the Hockeyroos do manage to win the tournament, it’ll be their fourth consecutive gold medal in the event and the fifth in six stagings of hockey at Commonwealth Games. Since the sport was admitted in 1998, only India at Manchester 2002 have denied the Hockeyroos top spot on the podium (they beat New Zealand in the bronze medal playoff that year).

It’s a different story in the men’s comp, for which the world number one-ranked Australian team is a $1.65 favourite ahead of England ($6) and India ($6.50). The Kookaburras kick off their campaign against South Africa on Saturday.

Daniel Sankey 7.30am: ‘All you had to do was look up’

Australian wheelchair racing veteran Kurt Fearnley has done it all in his career — from Paralympic, Commonwealth Games and world championship gold medals to crawling the Kokoda Track, Fearnley has just about seen and done it all.

However, he admitted he would find it difficult to get to sleep after last night’s 2018 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

“When you’re going around a stadium racing you don’t look up. That ... all you had to do was look up the entire time around. That was an incredible experience,” Fearnley said.

The Aussie kicks off his Commonwealth Games campaign in the men’s T54 1500m on April 10.

Daniel Sankey 7am: Gentle beginning for Australia

Gold Coast local Ashleigh Gentle is a big chance to get Australia off to a golden start in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the women’s triathlon this morning.

Gentle, the world number two, faces a match race against reigning world number one Flora Duffy of Bermuda when the women’s triathlon over the sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) kicks off at Southport Broadwater Parklands at 9.31am today.

Gentle’s coach, Jamie Turner, told The Australian’s Nicole Jeffery there was no reason why his charge couldn’t come away with gold.

“I think Ashleigh is a competitor who the opposition fear because she can run extraordinarily well,’’ Turner said.

“The strategy of some of her fancied rivals will be to try to take the race away from her by swimming and cycling to try to get away earlier, but I am very confident in Ashley’s ability to swim with them.

“We have invested a lot in her swim. She puts pressure on her competitors now because she’s able to see opportunity in all aspects of the race.’’

Read the full story here.

Daniel Sankey 6.30am: Day 1 — Aussies to watch

• 9.31am: Women’s triathlon — Ashleigh Gentle, Charlotte McShane, Gillian Backhouse
• 2.42pm: Cycling — women’s 4000m team pursuit qualifying (gold medal race 7.37pm)
• 3.35pm: Cycling — men’s team pursuit qualifying (gold medal race 8.19pm)
• 4.24pm: Cycling — women’s team sprint qualifying (gold medal race 8.55pm)
• 4.34pm: Cycling — men’s team sprint qualifying (gold medal race 9.02pm)
• 5.07pm: Gymnastics — men’s team final and individual qualification
• 7.37pm: Swimming — women’s 400m IM final (Meg Bailey, Blair Evans, Kaylee McKeown)
• 7.46pm: Swimming — men’s 400m freestyle final (Mack Horton, Jack McLoughlin, David McKeon)
• 8.04pm: Swimming — women’s 200m freestyle final (Ariarne Titmus, Leah Neale, Emma McKeon)
• 9.44pm: Swimming — men’s 200m breaststroke final (Zac Stubblety-Cook, Matt Wilson, George Harley)
• 9.50pm: Swimming — women’s 4x100m freestyle relay final

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/2018-commonwealth-games/2018-commonwealth-games-day-1-live-coverage-gentle-start-for-aussies/news-story/3493da8cf8c7191a3e6416d2de7f6b1e