Australian swim team bringing home record medal tally from Glasgow Games

DANIEL Tranter almost drowned the first time he jumped in a pool and survived a horror car accident just three years ago but now he is a Commonwealth Games champion.

In a wonderful story of fighting back against the odds which probably mirrors the effort of the entire Australian team these last two years, Tranter became Australia’s 14th individual gold medallist of the meet to cap six days of great racing.

Tranter’s victory was one of many highlights for Australia after a long and successful week at the pool where the swim team collected 19 gold, 21 silver and 17 bronze medals to eclipse their greatest total medal haul at a Commonwealth Games.

Daniel Tranter is greeted by the Australian team after his win. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

Tranter secured a stunning 200m medley gold medal on the final night of swimming at the Games, charging from sixth to first in the breaststroke leg to storm to victory.

The Sydney-based 22-year-old climbed onto the lane ropes and slapped his chest in celebration, with the entire Australian team on their feet poolside to cheer home a memorable win.

The women’s 4x100m medley relay team, inspired by an epic butterfly leg by Emma McKeon (56.95s) and superb anchor by Cate Campbell (51.59s) ensured Australia stormed to victory in the final 200m over England.

Australia won the gold medal in 3:56.23. with England taking silver in 3:57.03 and Canada the bronze medal in 4:00.57.

It was fitting that McKeon’s heroic led paved the way for gold, taking her tally to four gold and two bronze medals for the meet.

Australia’s Emily Seebohm (R) and Lorna Tonks cheer on their teammates during the Women’s 4 x 100m medley relay final. Source: AFP

The men’s 4x100m medley relay team then tried to reproduce the breathtaking grandstand finish but world champion James Magnussen couldn’t quite haul in England’s Adam Brown after diving in two seconds behind but ultimately fell just 0.70s shy of victory.

Tranter was the star, even invited media to join him on the 30-hour flight home tomorrow night where he could entertain them with further stories about his battle to the top.

He won in a time of 1:57.83 from Scotland’s Daniel Wallace (1:58.72) and South Africa’s Chad le Clos (1:58.85).

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, I really wish I could describe it better for you guys,” Tranter said.

“It’s such an amazing feeling, I’ve been swimming since I was seven-years-old.

“I’ve always seen the Australian swim team and the success they’ve had at Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games and always been successful in the pool. To finally be part of that is a little bit surreal.”

Cameron McEvoy (L) wins silver, Benjamin Proud of England wins gold and James Magnussen wins bronze in the Final of the Men’s 50m Freestyle. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

Tranter almost drowned at a friend’s birthday party as a kid, rescued by his frantic mum Leanne, and survived a car accident two months before the London Olympic trials when he slammed into the back of a car at 60km/h when a water bottle got stuck behind his brake pedal.

“Unfortunately it’s been a bit of a bumpy road but it adds to the experience,” he said.

“Having to work through all those obstacles has definitely made this somewhat more important to me, it’s kind of like the light at the end of the tunnel for me.”

Cameron McEvoy took his Commonwealth bounty to five medals — two gold and three silver — when he was second in the 50m freestyle.

It meant McEvoy, 20, finished bridesmaid in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events and the combined margins to gold add up to just a minuscule 0.79 seconds.

Katherine Downey wins silver in the final of the Women’s Para-Sport Individual Medley SM10. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

“I’m stoked with it. It’s been an awesome meet, I’ve learnt a lot both in and out of the water,” McEvoy said.

“This is my fifth medal so far and if you asked me a year ago if I thought I’d get five medals at least at the Commonwealth Games I would’ve been like ‘hell no I’d be lucky to get one if I’m in a relay.’

“I think I’ve had one of the best weeks of my life.”

By the end of the night McEvoy had added another silver medal to his tally, which he will receive at a later date as a heat swimmer for Australia’s medley relay team.

Australia’s Mack Horton produced the swim of his life to finish second in the 1500m freestyle in a time of 14:48.76, behind Canada’s Ryan Cochrane (14:44.03) with Daniel Jervis (14:55.33) of Wales just sprinting past Australia’s Jordan Harrison (14:55.71) to snatch the bronze medal.

Bronte Barratt claimed her second bronze medal in the 400m freestyle, giving her a matching pair from the 200m freestyle on night one.

Bronte Barratt wins bronze the final of the Women’s 400m Freestyle. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

She led early but was overhauled after the halfway by New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle (4:04.47) and Jazz Carlin (4:05.16) from Wales to finish in a time of 4:06.02.

“I just tried to hold on for dear life I guess,” Barratt said.

“I’m just happy I got up there, I wasn’t sure what the times would be like tonight.

“I didn’t think it would be particularly fast. I just knew it would be a battle and that is what it was and I’m really happy I got my hand on the wall.”

source:foxsports.com.au