Record-breaking Aussies dominate with cycling, swimming gold medals
GOLD COAST: Australia smashed world records in swimming and cycling on day one of the Commonwealth Games as they rebounded quickly from hurdler Sally Pearson’s shock pull-out on Thursday.
Poster-girl Pearson’s withdrawal with an Achilles problem made for a gloomy start to competition but it gave way to a triumphant evening for the hosts.
Australia’s three gold medals at the Anna Meares Velodrome included a world record in the men’s 4,000m team pursuit as they stamped their authority on the cycling competition.
It was only a slightly less fruitful night for the Aussies in the pool, where they won two golds including a new world mark in the 4x100m women’s freestyle relay.
Olympic champion Mack Horton won the men’s 400m freestyle although Canada’s Taylor Ruck pipped two Aussies -- fellow 17-year-old Ariarne Titmus, and Emma McKeon -- in the women’s 200m free.
Australia’s Pearson, the 100m hurdles world champion and a Gold Coast resident, earlier said she was in tears when she realised she had to withdraw, but added: “My health comes first.” The former Olympic champion, 31, is the face of the Games but she said a long-standing Achilles’ problem flared up two days ago and left her unable to clear hurdles in training.
“Of course, I did everything I possibly could. I left no stone unturned to get out here and race for Australia in the 100m hurdles and the 4x100m relay,” Pearson said.