Alex Yee became the first gold medallist in the 2022 Commonwealth Games. (Photo: Birmingham 2022)
Day One of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games saw plenty of medals up for grabs already, with 16 gold medals won on an action-packed day.
On a day that began with an exciting triathlon victory by English star Alex Yee, the medals began to spread amongst the countries, hoping to get their campaign off to a great start.
Triathlon – Men’s Individual (Sprint Distance)
The first medal of the 2022 Commonwealth Games was awarded in the men’s triathlon, with Alex Yee of England storming home to claim the first gold.
After the swimming portion of the race, Yee was sitting way back in 16th place, forcing significant time to be made up in the cycling and running legs.
And make up time he did, storming past eventual runner-up Hayden Wilde of New Zealand.
Wilde and Yee were neck-and-neck before the finish line when Wilde was found to have accrued a 10 second penalty, allowing Yee to take the lead.
Behind Wilde was Australia’s Matthew Hauser, who also improved after the swimming portion, to claim bronze.
Gold: Alex Yee (ENG)
Silver: Hayden Wilde (NZL)
Bronze: Matthew Hauser (AUS)
Triathlon – Women’s Individual (Sprint Distance)
The women’s triathlon saw the second gold medal of the day delivered to Bermuda’s Flora Duffy, who defended her crown from the 2018 Games.
The last leg of the race saw the two favourites in Duffy and England’s Georgia Taylor-Brown battle it out for the gold, with Duffy coming out on top.
Third place was wrapped up Scotland’s Beth Potter, meaning three of the six medals awarded first went to the home nations after Yee’s victory earlier.
Gold: Flora Duffy (BER)
Silver: Georgia Taylor-Brown (ENG)
Bronze: Beth Potter (SCO)
Track Cycling – Women’s Tandem B Sprint
On to the track now, and the women’s tandem sprint final took place in the Lee Valley VeloPark.
It was Australian Jessica Gallagher who claimed gold in the contest against runner-up Aileen McGlynn from Scotland, with their first race proving to be the difference.
In the bronze medal matchup, it was England’s Sophie Unwin who emerged victorious to claim the third spot over Libby Clegg of Scotland.
Gold: Jessica Gallagher (AUS)
Silver: Aileen McGlynn (SCO)
Bronze: Sophie Unwin (ENG)
Track Cycling – Men’s Tandem B 1000m Time Trial
We saw the first record of the games fall in the men’s time trial, with Scotland’s Neil Fachie breaking a games record and claiming the gold medal.
It was a medal race dominated by the host nations, with Welsh James Ball finishing 0.115 seconds behind Fachie for second and England’s Stephen Bate finished up in third.
The games record was actually broken twice, with the eventual runner-up in Ball breaking it before Fachie’s attempt in two lightning-quick times.
Gold: Neil Fachie (SCO)
Silver: James Bell (WAL)
Bronze: Stephen Bate (ENG)
Track Cycling – Women’s 4000m Team Pursuit
Another games record fell mere moments after the first, this time in the women’s team pursuit as Australia dominated New Zealand in the final to take out gold.
The Australians finished 5.75 seconds ahead of New Zealand to take out top honours, setting the record in the process and having all four of their sections outriding their counterpart.
In the bronze medal race, England was too strong for Wales in a closer contest and were able to claim the bronze
Gold: Australia
Silver: New Zealand
Bronze: England
Track Cycling – Men’s 4000m Team Pursuit
Not to be outdone, the men’s team pursuit saw the third games record fall so far, with New Zealand claiming the gold and the record over runner-up England by 2.009 seconds.
The Kiwis won every section of their race on the way to the gold, posting an average speed of 63.276 seconds.
For the bronze, Australia defeated Wales to claim another medal to its tally.
Gold: New Zealand
Silver: England
Bronze: Australia
Track Cycling- Women’s Team Sprint
Another race and another games record in the velodrome, with New Zealand claiming another gold medal.
They were able to defeat Canada in the final by only 0.576 seconds, in what was extremely close throughout and saw Canada win the second section.
In the bronze medal match, Wales beat Australia to claim third and be the only host nation on the podium in this one.
Gold: New Zealand
Silver: Canada
Bronze: Wales
Track Cycling – Men’s Team Sprint
In the final medal event in the Velodrome for the night, it was another games record claimed as has been the case so often in the first day.
Australia this time was able to get in on the action, claiming gold and the record over England in second place.
In the bronze medal match, New Zealand finished a solid day on the track, claiming the bronze over Canada.
Gold: Australia
Silver: England
Bronze: New Zealand
Artistic Gymnastics – Men’s Team Final
In what acts as both individual qualification and a medal event, the first medals for gymnastics were awarded on day one to the English men.
They lead through every rotation and claimed the gold medal, with Canada finishing just behind them in second.
For the bronze, Cyprus was able to put together a fantastic performance and claim third place and its first medal these Games.
Gold: England
Silver: Canada
Bronze: Cyprus
Swimming – Men’s 400m Freestyle
It was absolute Aussie domination in the pool, with every medal claimed by the Australians in the first swimming final of the day.
Elijah Winnington was first to hit the wall for the gold medal, closely followed by Sam Short.
The bronze medal was wrapped up by Mack Horton, who rounded out the Australian whitewash by just 0.13 of a second.
Gold: Elijah Winnington (AUS)
Silver: Sam Short (AUS)
Bronze: Mack Horton (AUS)
Swimming – Women’s 400m Individual Medley
Continuing the trend of games records breaking, the pool saw even more as Team Canada’s Summer McIntosh take the gold and the record in the individual medley.
The 15-year-old was barely challenged in the pool, with Kiah Melverton of Australia her closest competitor at seven seconds back.
In a tighter finish for the bronze, Scotland’s Katie Shanahan was too strong and took home the third place.
Gold: Summer McIntosh (CAN)
Silver: Kiah Melverton (AUS)
Bronze: Katie Shanahan (SCO)
More Commonwealth Games News:
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Birmingham 2022: Preview Guide to the Aussie Beach Volleyball in the Commonwealth Games
Birmingham 2022: Timothy Hodge on podium hopes after recent form
Swimming – Women’s 200m Freestyle
The second games record broken in the pool was achieved here by Aussie swimming star Ariarne Titmus, as she claimed another gold for Australia.
It was in fact, another Aussie whitewash as silver and bronze head down under after a tight battle.
Mollie O’Callaghan pushed her compatriot all the way up to the wall, finishing only 0.12 seconds behind, while Madison Wilson finished off the sweep with bronze.
Gold: Ariarne Titmus (AUS)
Silver: Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS)
Bronze: Madison Wilson (AUS)
Swimming- Men’s 100m Backstroke S9
The para-swimming saw more of the same from the Australians, who claimed another gold medal in the pool.
Timothy Hodge was clear of his opponents for the gold, with New Zealand’s Jesse Reynolds claiming silver.
In a very close battle for bronze, it was Northern Ireland’s Barry McClements who took the third place, giving his country their first medal in the pool.
Gold: Timothy Hodge (AUS)
Silver: Jesse Reynolds (NZL)
Bronze: Barry McClements (NIR)
Swimming – Women’s 100m Freestyle S9
In the second medal event for the S9 class, what will be one of the closest top three’s of the games this year took place for the gold.
Coming out on top was New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe, with a time of 1:02.95.
Pascoe beat out silver and bronze by 0.79 and 0.80 seconds respectively, as Emily Beecroft of Australia claimed second by 0.01 seconds over Scotland’s Toni Shaw.
Gold: Sophie Pascoe (NZL)
Silver: Emily Beecroft (AUS)
Bronze: Toni Shaw (SCO)
Swimming- Men’s 200m Breaststroke
It was a close finish, but a well-timed comeback from Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook was enough to secure him the gold medal in the breaststroke.
Stubblety-Cook worked hard in the final lap to run over the top of runner-up James Wilby from England, who lead at the first three distances.
For the bronze, Scotland’s Ross Murdoch beat out close competition to claim another medal for a host nation.
Gold: Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS)
Silver: James Wilby (ENG)
Bronze: Ross Murdoch (SCO)
Swimming- Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay
In the final medal event of the day, it was much of the same for the Australian’s as they claimed another gold in the pool.
They worked their way to the front throughout the race, allowing Emma McKeon to storm through and claim the gold for Australia in the final leg.
England finished 1.27 seconds behind Australia for the silver and Canada claimed the bronze.
Gold: Australia
Silver: England
Bronze: Canada
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