Aussie’s shock gold from lane one reawakens iconic Olympic memories
Australia’s Kai Taylor plucked a shock gold medal from lane one in a gutsy and glorious swim at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on Thursday (AEST).
With his famous mum Hayley Lewis delirious in the stands, and his high-profile coach Dean Boxall going berserk, Taylor pulled off an epic underdog victory in the men’s 200-metre freestyle.
Australia’s Kai Taylor celebrates his improbable win from lane one, in front of his famous mum Hayley Lewis and coach Dean Boxall. Getty, Seven.
For Australian swimming great Cate Campbell, it was a throwback to the iconic Olympic victories of Duncan Armstrong and Kieran Perkins, who won gold medals from lane six and lane eight respectively.
Taylor lined up in lane one having qualified with one of the slowest times.
A lane was all he needed.
“If you’ve got a lane, you’ve got a chance,” the 22-year-old said.
“I managed to get myself into the final tonight after a bit of a slow swim this morning, but you’ve always got a chance when you’re in the race.
“I just went out there with no fear and got my hand on the wall first. I’m super stoked.”
Taylor led from start to finish. He was ahead of world record pace for a chunk of the race. He cannoned into the lead in audacious style, and refused to surrender it as his rivals thundered home.
He touched in 1:45.22, ahead of England’s James Guy (1:45.72) and Wales’ Matt Richards (1:45.72).
His mum, Hayley Lewis, won seven Commonwealth Games gold medals in the 1990s.
Taylor, a son of a gun, now sits alongside his mum as a Commonwealth Games champion.
“We love an outside smoker – it’s kind of written into swimming folklore,” Campbell said on Nine’s Today.
Kai Taylor celebrates his improbable win from lane one. Getty
The Dolphins icon threw back to Armstrong’s victory from lane six at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, also in the men’s 200m freestyle, and Perkins’ win from lane eight in the men’s 1500m freestyle at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
“We’ve had Kieren Perkins from lane eight, we’ve had Duncan Armstrong from lane six, and now we have Kai Taylor from lane one,” Campbell said.
“It was a gutsy performance. No one was really watching him, and he managed to sneak a little gold. It was unbelievable.
“It was one of the best swims that I have seen.
“He backed himself 100 per cent, he led from start to finish, he was all out on his own, he had it his own way, and now, he is Commonwealth Games champion.”
