Article courtesy of Birmingham 2022.
Kyle Chalmers claimed his first individual gold medal at the Games with victory in the men’s 100 metres Freestyle final.
Emma McKeon celebrated her fourth gold medal of Birmingham 2022 with the women’s 50m Butterfly title as the medals kept coming in the pool for Australia, who claimed five titles on Monday night.
The 28-year-old, who had already won the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay, women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay and women’s 50m Freestyle – with silver in Saturday’s women’s 100m Butterfly – came home in 25.90 seconds to finish ahead of silver medallist Erin Gallagher of South Africa as compatriot Holly Barratt took bronze.
McKeon was delighted to get her speed and stroke right, saying: “I feel great. I think that was my 13th race. I’ve been counting since I got to halfway and that was on day two.
“That’s my first international medal in the 50 fly and my main focus is the 100 fly and it’s good to know I have that speed.
“The 50 fly is about keeping your stroke and getting your hand on the wall first.”
Kyle Chalmers claimed his first individual gold medal at the 2022 Games with victory in the men’s 100 metres Freestyle final at Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
The 24-year-old, part of Australia’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay winning teams in the men’s and mixed categories, hit the front early on from lane four and never looked back, clocking 47.51 seconds to finish first.
England’s Tom Dean claimed his fourth silver at these Games after coming home in a time of 47.89secs, with Scotland’s Duncan Scott rounding off the podium positions in a time of 48.27s.
Chalmers, who was runner-up last time out, said: “It’s special. Four years ago I came second by such a small margin and it’s something that has motivated me for a long period.
“It wasn’t my best swim, it’s not my best time but time does not really matter.
“What matters is getting the gold medal. That took all my courage to race and it was all about getting my hand on the wall first.”
Chalmers admitted he was feeling rather overwhelmed by his victory, adding: “It’s been overwhelming and I love it.
“The last 48 hours has been hell, an emotional roller-coaster. Speaking to my coach beforehand, I almost started crying – and I’m not an emotional person.”
Olympic Women’s 200m Backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown added the Commonwealth title for Australia with a Games record winning time of 2:05.60 to take gold ahead of Canada’s Kylie Masse and Katie Shanahan of Scotland.
Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh celebrated her second gold of the Games – and fourth in total – with victory in the women’s 200m Individual Medley.
The 15-year-old came home in 2:08.70 ahead of Australia’s McKeown and bronze medallist Abbie Wood of England.
Matthew Levy successfully defended his Gold Coast title as he added further gold for Australia in the men’s 50m Freestyle S7 in 28.95.
The 35-year-old – three-time Paralympic champion – saw off second-placed Wei Soong Toh of Singapore and bronze medallist Christian Sadie of South Africa.
Australia also defended their men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay title to take their gold medal haul for the night to five in the pool.
The 2018 champions came home in a Games record 7:04.96 ahead of England and third-placed Scotland – in an identical podium to that of the Gold Coast.
Australia’s Elijah Winnington said after the race: “We knew it was going to be close.
“England has an unbelievable team but I just wanted to do my job and get the boys out to a good lead and you know, that’s what I did.”
