Launceston swim sensation Ariarne Titmus has won her first individual gold at the Commonwealth Games on Monday night.
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Titmus got out to an early break in the 800m freestyle and was never headed, extending the lead during her closing laps.
The 17-year-old touched the wall in 8:20.27, more than seven seconds ahead of her nearest rival, countrywoman Jessica Ashwood with fellow Australian Kiah Melverton claiming the bronze.
Titmus’s ultra-impressive performance in the Gold Coast pool added to her individual silver medal in the 200m freestyle on Thursday night.
She was pipped by 0.04 seconds – just behind Canadian Taylor Ruck – but in her preferred distance, Titmus began what swimming legend Ian Thorpe called a possible dynasty in the middle-distance swim.
Tasmanian Sam Walker earlier run a brave race in the T38 100m final on the track.
The 15-year-old finished a gutsy sixth behind eventual Australian winner Evan O’Hanlon.
The Canberra cerebral palsy sprinter split the field by the halfway mark to win in 11.09, finishing 0.24 seconds ahead of South African Dyan Buis.
Walker got off to a good start out of the blocks to cross the line in a time of 11.80, which was also his best for the season.
The Hobart teen, who only started athletics four years earlier, was the youngest competitor in the final.
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
