Mollie O’Callaghan shocks McKeon as Kennedy wins Birmingham pole vault gold

Mollie O’Callaghan shocked Emma McKeon and Shayna Jack to clinch gold in the women’s 100m freestyle, as Ariarne Titmus set an 800m freestyle Commonwealth Games record and Cody Simpson finished fifth in the men’s 100m butterfly final.

Australia raked in more gold medals in Birmingham on day five, when Australian pole vaulter Nina Kennedy kicked off the athletics with a comfortable win, Kate McDonald upset gymnastics golden girl Georgia Godwin and the men’s wheelchair basketball team stood atop the podium. The men’s 3x3 basketballer team suffered an agonising final loss to England.

Australia’s swimming domination continued on the penultimate day of competition in the pool, with O’Callaghan fighting back from fourth at the turn to lead a clean sweep ahead of Jack in silver and McKeon in bronze.

“I’m really happy, and I’m happy to do it with these amazing girls, especially Emma,” O’Callaghan told the Seven Network. “She is an absolute idol, so it is really nice to race alongside her this time. And especially Shayna Jack too, coming back from stuff, so I’m very happy.”

Titmus was the other headline act, touching for her sixth Commonwealth Games gold medal in eight minutes and 13.59 seconds – a Games record that was quicker than the time which earned her Tokyo Olympics silver behind American Katie Ledecky. Kiah Melverton and Lani Pallister took home silver and bronze to complete yet another Australian clean sweep.

Kaylee McKeown, Zac Stubblety-Cook, McKeon and Matthew Temple claimed gold in the mixed 4x100m medley relay to extend their unbeaten relay run.

The win was McKeon’s 13th career Commonwealth Games gold and her 19th overall medal – meaning she surpasses the previous record of 18 held by South Africa’s Chad le Clos.

But