Chalmers inspires five-star Aussie gold rush

Kyle Chalmers led an Aussie one-two in the 200 metres freestyle and anchored an emphatic relay win as the hosts grabbed a stunning five gold medals in the Commonwealth Games pool today.

Chalmers, the Olympic 100m freestyle champion, made a trademark last-lap surge to take 200m gold in a personal best of one minute 45.56 seconds, the second fastest time in the world this year.

Chalmers then claimed his second Commonwealth gold in the mens 4x100m freestyle relay victory as Australia dominated the second evening, with sprint queen Cate Campbell again in record-breaking form on the Gold Coast.

Campbell, who anchored Australia to a world record as they won the 4x100m freestyle relay on Thursday, broke the Games mark with 23.88 seconds in her 50m freestyle semi-final.

She was under world record pace for most of the one-length race before finishing just 0.21sec outside Swede Sarah Sjostroms world record of 23.67sec.

"Its been fantastic, really good. All the guys are swimming out of their skin really," Australias head coach Jacco Verhaeren said.

"Most of them are faster than at trials and that was the plan. There have been many highlights. I cant choose a medal but theyre all special."
"I probably should be that bit quicker, but to be able to come home like that in the last 50 gives me great confidence for the 200m."
- Super Campbell -
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"Kyle and I became really great mates while in Rio, where we both shared gold," he said. "Its special to do it with him here in front of a home crowd."
"Its nice to have a few of them every once in a while," she said. "To swim a sub-24 seconds is something that only a handful of people can do, and have done in history."
Looking ahead to the possibility of a clean sweep of her events at the meet -- the 50m/100m freestyle, 50m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay -- she added:
"I havent even thought that far. Its all about my next process rather than looking towards results."