Tai takes 100th swimming Commonwealth gold on day two

A Paralympic, World and European relay champion, Alice Tai was delighted to add the Commonwealth Games individual gold medallist to her achievements. As the world record holder in the event, the 19 year old was widely tipped as the favourite to claim gold, but her previous success has been in relays and is without an international individual title.

Tai touched the wall first in 1:08.77 to take gold ahead three seconds ahead of Australian duo Ellie Cole and Ashleigh McConnell. Scotland’s Toni Shaw was fifth in 1:16.79.

Afterwards, Tai said:

“I’m so proud and shocked and it wouldn’t have happened unless all my team-mates had been swimming so well. The whole team is buzzing off the back of our success, winning four golds on the first day.

“It’s just a crazy feeling to be coming away with a gold medal. The weather conditions were pretty crazy, I’ve wanted to train in the rain since we got here and then it started chucking it down before the race.

“It’s pretty cool to be the 100th gold medallist, I had no idea and no-one will be able to take it away from me.”

Lewis, 17, qualified second fastest for the final in a new British record 56.83 and pushed it to another level in the final, lowering the mark to 56.77, and claiming silver.

White said:

“I can’t complain about two British records in the same day and I’m delighted with the silver. I wasn’t in the right place before Christmas but my coach has worked so hard with me to get me into shape and preparations have been great.

“It was a shame to tire up near the finish because it could have been gold but that’s a lesson for another day.” 

Gold and bronze went to Australia’s Timothy Disken and Brenden Hall respectively.

Follow the action of our Home nation stars on the Gold Coast 2018 website. The Games take place from 4-15 April 2018. 

Photo credit: ParalympicsGB