(L-R) Australia’s Cate Campbell, Australia’s Melanie Schlanger, Australia’s Emma McKeon and Australia’s Bronte Campbell pose after winning the gold medal in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. (AFP/ANDREJ ISAKOVIC)
GLASGOW: Australia set a new women’s 4x100m freestyle relay world record of 3min 30:98sec as they retained their Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow on Thursday (July 24).
Having already broken the Commonwealth Games record in the heats, the addition of 100m freestyle world champion Cate Campbell to the final team proved the difference as they shaved more than seven tenths of a second off the previous record held by the Netherlands.
England took the silver medal with Canada coming third for bronze.
“It wasn’t even a topic that we had discussed, but I think we all had an inkling in the back of our heads that it was possible,” said the elder stateswoman of the team, Melanie Schlanger.
And Schlanger believes more world records will tumble in the near future as swimmers from all over the world get closer to the times set before a ban on high-tech swim suits in 2009.
“It is pretty cool. I am 27 now and coming towards the end of my career so I never thought I would break another world record.
“Australia used to break them all the time and I am sure we will see more in the next couple of years as we get closer to the super suit times.
“The suits put those targets a little bit away from everyone, but to have an Aussie record now is pretty exciting.
“At the Commonwealth Games, Australia dominate a lot so sometimes it can be less exciting, but breaking a world record is always exciting and these girls are so talented it is clear Australian swimming is in safe hands.”
It was a particularly special evening for another of the team Emma McKeon as she also claimed gold in the 200m freestyle and qualified for the 100m butterfly final.
“It has been overwhelming. I wasn’t expecting all of this tonight.
“I definitely enjoyed it all, but after my first medal I had to refocus for my next race and then for the relay.
“The most special is definitely the relay. To see the team up in the stands cheering us on and my family here was amazing.”
Indeed the McKeon family had three medals to celebrate on the evening as her brother David also took silver in the men’s 400m freestyle.
Women’s 400m individual medley:
Gold: Hannah Miley (SCO)
Silver: Aimee Wilmott (ENG)
Bronze: Keryn McMaster (AUS)
Men’s 400m freestyle:
Gold: Ryan Cochrane (CAN)
Silver: David McKeon (AUS)
Bronze: James Guy (ENG)
Men’s 100m freestyle – parasport:
Gold: Rowan Crothers (AUS) – WR
Silver: Matthew Cowdrey (AUS)
Bronze: Brenden Hall (AUS)
Women’s 200m freestyle:
Gold: Emma McKeon (AUS)
Silver: Siobhan O’Connor (ENG)
Bronze: Bronte Barratt (AUS)
Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay:
Gold: Australia – World Record
Silver: England
Bronze: Canada
Men’s 200m breaststroke:
Gold: Ross Murdoch (SCO)
Silver: Michael Jamieson (SCO)
Bronze: Andrew Willis (ENG)
– AFP