Scotland’s Duncan Scott & Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil won the much anticipated races in the 200 free and 100 butterfly respectively that featured two Olympic medalists in both. New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt also raced to the fourth fastest performer in the world in the 400 IM.
Men’s 50m Butterfly
England’s Ben Proud redeemed himself from a false start in the heats in 2018 to win gold in a new Games record with a 22.81, swimming away from the rest of the field. Proud was also the champion in 2014, showcasing his strength and consistency in the event.
"On paper it's just another gold medal but to me this is an eight-year legacy that I've just completed,” Proud said. “I walked into this event eight years ago and walked away with a gold not knowing what I'd done.
"Four years later I got disqualified and felt like I was held back from taking that title. So to be able to come back four years later after a lengthy career, after some highs and lows and to take that gold back into my hands, that is something that I am extremely grateful for."
The time was faster than he did at the World Championships final in June, but just off his season best of 22.7. He was four tenths ahead of silver medalist Tzen Wei Teong of Singapore (23.21). The medal is Singapore’s second medal in swimming at the Games.
The bronze went to New Zealand’s Cameron Gray (23.27), just touching ahead of Trinidad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter (23.28).
Women’s 50m Breaststroke
South Africa’s Lara Van Niekerk made it three-for-three in Games records in the 50 breaststroke with a 29.73, as the South African contingent is one for one in its pursuit of sweeping the women’s breaststroke gold medals in Birmingham.
"It felt amazing, the crowd was going wild, I knew it was going to be close,” Van Niekerk said. “But I am just happy I could swim the second-best time I have ever done. To win a medal is a bonus."
Van Niekerk won comfortably, with England’s Imogen Clark (30.02) and Chelsea Hodges (30.05) sharing the podium with her.
South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker, who is the heavy favorite in the 100 and 200 breaststroke later on in the competition, finished fourth overall at 30.41, while teammate Kaylene Corbett (31.10) was sixth.
Men’s 200m Freestyle
It was a race that was billed as perhaps the race of the meet - the British gold and silver medalists from Tokyo racing under different colors - Tom Dean for England, and Duncan Scott for Scotland.
It was a reversal of the Tokyo final, with Scott taking the gold medal at 1:45.02 over Dean at 1:45.41. The Birmingham crowd didn’t need to pick a favorite swimmer to cheer for as their two favorite sons, still good friends and rivals, will share the podium with 400 champ Elijah Winnington (1:45.62) of Australia.
"The friendship comes before the rivalry. We are great pals in and out of the pool,” Dean said.
"Tom and Duncan were first and second at the Olympic Games - you can't get two better freestylers in the world, let alone the Commonwealth,” Winnington said.
Scott improves on his bronze from 2018, and gives Scotland its first gold medal in the swimming pool in Birmingham. The time was slower than the podium in Budapest, where Scott was expected to contend, but was forced to withdraw due to a fight with COVID-19. It was a gold medal swim nonetheless in Birmingham as he starts the march towards Paris 2024.
Men’s 400m IM
New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt put together the swim of his life in the 400 IM final with a very impressive swim of 4:08.70 for a new Games record. Clareburt is the first Kiwi to win a men’s swimming gold medal at the Games since Moss Burmester in 2006 as Clareburt moves up to 11th all-time in the event, improving on his 4:09 national record.
Clareburt was in the lead the entirety of the race, with Australia’s Brendon Smith winning the silver at 4:10.15 as those two were fourth and fifth in Budapest last month, and each swam season bests here in Birmingham.
Scotland’s Duncan Scott, about an hour removed from his 200 free gold medal, won the bronze with a 4:11.27 and was not much of a factor throughout the race.
“I wouldn’t have done that double if I wasn’t confident. I know my own ability and that’s why I trusted myself and trusted the process, trusted the coach,” Scott said. "He has a lot of faith in my ability so I just have to go out there and do it.”
Women’s 100m Butterfly
Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil showed why she is the Olympic champion and one of the best racers in the world, holding off Australia’s Emma McKeon in the 100 fly final by the slimmest of margins. Mac Neil swam a 56.36 to McKeon’s 56.38, as Mac Neil had used her superb turn to pull away from the Australian, who clawed back with every meter on the back end.
Ultimately, Mac Neil’s time puts her fourth in the world for 2022, but it was good enough to win ahead of Olympic bronze medalist McKeon, as neither of them raced this individually at the World Championships.
Australia’s Brianna Throssell (57.50) won the bronze medal ahead of teammate Alex Perkins (57.87).
Men’s 100m Backstroke
South Africa celebrated its second gold medal of the night with Pieter Coetze winning the wide open final at 53.78. Coetze had the lead at the 50, but England’s Brodie Williams had a fantastic turn and looked to be running away with the race, much to the delight of the Birmingham crowd, but it was not to be as the 18-year-old won South Africa’s first Commonwealth Games medal in this event.
“I was in the athletes’ area and was watching on TV, it was very inspiring to see her break the Games record for the third time,” Coetze said of seeing Van Niekerk win. “We’re close friends so I am so happy for her. I’ve known her for a long time so it’s great to see my friends succeed.”
"I can't really believe it, I didn't come into this thinking that 100m backstroke was a viable option [for me],” Williams said of the silver medal. "I'm more of a [400m individual medley racer] but I've got to take my chances."
Williams wound up with the silver medal at 53.91, while Australia’s Bradley Woodward (54.06) won the bronze. Coetze took down defending champion Mitch Larkin (54.30) of Australia, who wound up in sixth place and off the podium.
Women’s 4x100m Free
The Australians were unable to set a world record at a third straight Commonwealth Games, but the team still flexed its muscles in the women’s 4x100 free relay, winning for the seventh straight Games.
The team of Madison Wilson (53.22), Shayna Jack (52.72), Mollie O’Callaghan (52.66), and Emma McKeon (52.04) swam a 3:30.64, not far off the world record of 3:29.69 as the depth in Australia is unmatched in the rest of the world.
England won in a comfortable silver medal at 3:36.62 with the team of Anna Hopkin (53.81), Abbie Wood (54.28), Isabella Hindley (55.10), and Freya Anderson (53.43), finishing ahead of the team from Canada at 3:37.25.
400 IM gold medalist Summer McIntosh tried her hand in the sprint relay, leading off in a 54.62, with Katerine Savard (54.44), Rebecca Smith (55.08), and Maggie Mac Neil (53.11) following.
Men’s 4x100m Free
Perhaps it could have been an upset finish as the teams from England and Canada started to believe that they had the team to take down the mighty Australians, but it was not to be on Saturday evening in Birmingham. The Aussies have now won 10 of the last 11 gold medals in the men’s 4x100 free relay as the team of Flynn Southam (48.54), Zac Incerti (47.96), William Yang (47.60), and Kyle Chalmers (47.02) swam to a 3:11.12.
The time was just off the squad’s 3:10.80 from last month’s Worlds as the team celebrated its second gold medal of the night in the swimming pool.
On paper, England looked to have a stronger team than Australia, but the likes of Incerti and Yang stepped up to keep the gold medal in the land down under.
The English team of Lewis Burras (48.39), Jacob Whittle (47.94), James Guy (48.70), and Tom Dean (46.70) raced to an impressive 3:11.73, not far off the British record of 3:11.14 set earlier this year in Budapest.
Canada won the bronze with a 3:13.01 as the team of Josh Liendo (48.33), Ruslan Gaziev (48.13), Finlay Knox (48.82), and Javier Acevedo (47.73) celebrated the nation’s third medal of the night in the pool.
LOOKING AHEAD
Semi-final wrap and a look ahead to Sunday’s medal events
Women’s 50m Freestyle - Another Aussie Sweep?
The Australian women have already swept the podium in the 200 freestyle, and a similar result could occur in the 50 free, as Shayna Jack leads the semi finalists at 24.33 ahead of Meg Harris (24.41) and Olympic gold medalist Emma McKeon (24.51).
Jack was set to swim this in Budapest but had to withdraw the back end of the meet due to a hand injury and will be itching to put up a good swim in the final. If anyone could spoil the Aussie party, it could be England’s Anna Hopkin (24.66), who is the fourth seed and swimming in front of the home crowd.
Women’s 100m Backstroke - Kylie v. Kaylee
Much like in the men’s 200 free earlier, the gold and silver medalist from Tokyo will square off in the final - this time in the women’s 100 back. Tokyo gold medalist and world record holder Kaylee McKeown of Australia is seeded second at 59.08 to Canada’s Kylie Masse (58.83), who was behind the Australian in Japan last year.
Masse was the Worlds silver medalist last month in Budapest in McKeown’s absence, who elected to race the 200 IM over her best event. McKeown and Masse have been as fast as 58.3 this year, and will be eyeing the world leading time of 57.65 by USA’s Regan Smith from Worlds.
Wales’ Medi Harris (59.64) is the favorite for the bronze medal as the Worlds finalist could challenge for a medal ahead of the likes of England’s Lauren Cox (1:00.36) and Australia’s Minna Atherton (1:00.50).
Men’s 100m Breaststroke - Adam Peaty on Full Display
England’s Adam Peaty is the clear favorite to win his third straight Commonwealth Games gold medal in Sunday’s 100 breast final as he swam to a 59.02 in the semi finals while keeping his mustache in the round. With an expected full shave for the final, Peaty will be tough to beat, and perhaps a run at the top time in the world of 58.26 will be in his sights.
200 champ Zac Stubblety-Cook of Australia is the second seed at 59.80. Even with his blistering back end speed, he is not expected to challenge Peaty, who is racing here after a foot injury forced him out of the World Championships.
England’s James Wilby, winner of silver in the 200, is the third seed at 59.85 ahead of Australia’s Sam Williamson (59.98) and Joshua Yong (59.99).
Men’s 200m Butterfly - Is It Four Straight For Chad Le Clos?
Long-time friends and rivals Chad Le Clos of South Africa and James Guy of England will do battle in the 200 butterfly final where Le Clos is aiming for an unprecedented fourth straight gold medal, which no swimmer has ever done at the Commonwealth Games. England’s Mason Wilby, Australia’s Bowen Gough and India’s Sajan Prakash are also expected to contend for medals.
Women’s 200m Breaststroke - Welcome to the Tatjana Show
World record holder and Olympic champion Tatjana Schoenmaker will be swimming her bread and butter event on Sunday in Birmingham as she is the clear favorite to repeat gold from 2018. If anyone could take her down, it might come from England’s Molly Renshaw or South Africa’s Kaylene Corbett, who also trains with Schoenmaker and coach Rocco Meiring. 2014 champ Taylor McKeown could also factor into the medals if she is at her best.
Women’s 4x200m Free - Do the Aussies Have a World Record in Them?
The Australians swept the podium in the individual 200 free with Ariarne Titmus, Mollie O’Callaghan, and Madison Wilson on Friday, meaning this will be a race against the clock for the quartet that is selected for the final. The record stands at 7:40.33 from China at the Olympics last year, and if Titmus and O’Callaghan match their individual 200 frees, then the world record could be in danger.
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All times local)
- 19:07 Men’s 50m Backstroke semi finals
- 19:17 Women’s 50m Butterfly semi finals
- 19:28 Men’s 200m Butterfly
- 19:35 Women’s 100m Backstroke S8
- 19:42 Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB8
- 20:05 Women’s 50m Freestyle final
- 20:11 Men’s 100m Freestyle semi finals
- 20:22 Women’s 200m Breaststroke final
- 20:45 Women’s 100m Backstroke final
- 20:51 Men’s 100m Breaststroke final
- 21:13 Women’s 4x200m Freestyle final