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Record Puts Australia Back On Top

Oct 4, 2010  - Craig Lord

Commonwealth Games, Delhi, day 1 finals

Men 4x100m freestyle

Australia was back on top after tripping up in 2006, victory in a Games record of 3:13.92 delivering a tenth crown in 13 times of asking since 1962. Silver went to England in 3:15.05, bronze to the defending champions South Africa in 3:15.21. Canada ended fourth, on 3:17.99, after 2007 world solo champion Brent Hayden led off with a blistering 48.18, a Games record of its own.

But team glory went to Kyle Richardson (49.23), Eamon Sullivan (47.49); Tommaso D'Orsogna (48.63); and James Magnussen (48.57). For England, a good start by Simon Burnett (48.82) was followed by Liam Tancock (his 48.14 the third best of the final, counting Hayden's lead-off as relatively faster), Grant Turner (49.01) and Adam Brown (49.08). South Africa had Graeme Moore (49.19) up front, followed by Gideon Louw (48.40), Roland Schoeman (49.09) and Darian Townsend (48.53).

For Schoeman, bronze represented his 8th Commonwealth Games medal, a South African record and worthy of a place on the list of top 10 medal-winning men. At the helm is Mike Wenden (AUS) on 14, including 9 gold from 1966 to 1974.

Sullivan noted his altered image on the relay, in second spot when he is normally up front or last in: "It's a little different, to be honest. But I went out there, had some fun and enjoyed watching the last two boys bring it home."

Magnussen, who went in a touch behind England but delivered a clear victory for the Dolphins, said: "I just wanted to cruise out in the first 50 metres. I didn't really care what anyone else was doing or how fast they were swimming. I knew I had it in me to come home strong over the last 50 metres and it worked."

Tancock noted: "This is a pretty new team, and for a team like this getting a silver is fantastic." It was Tancock who prompted a delay the start of the final by pointing out the starling-sized beetles swimming in the Aussie lane. An official had trouble fishing the beasts out of the pond as the racers looked on anxiously. "I pointed the bugs out to Eamon before the race and we had a good laugh about it, I'd never seen anything like it ever before."

History in the making:

Top 3 comparisons

  • 2010: 3:13.92; 3:15.05; 3:15.21
  • 2006: 3:14.97; 3:15.54; 3:15.74

Gold-medal leader board: AUS 10/13 (since 1962)

Records:

  • Shiny suit:   3:08.24 USA 2009
  • Textile suit: 3:11.74 USA 2010
  • Commonwealth Games: 3:13.92 AUS 2010

From The Archive:

Australians have lost the event just thrice, the last time at home in Melbourne in 2006, when South Africans inflicted the damage at an event at which  the male Dolphins had to wait until the last day of the meet before they claimed gold. In 2010 they claimed their first gold on day one and this meet in Delhi will be somewhat different for a school keen to step up and shake off the heavy burden of the Thorpe-Hackett era.