Australia is soaking up one of the best performances of the Commonwealth Games after Lachlan Kennedy, Josh Azzopardi, Calab Law and Rohan Browning claimed 4x100m relay gold medals in Glasgow.
It was an epic performance against Paris 2024 Olympic gold and silver medallists Canada and South Africa, but it was also a genuine shock — as made clear on the faces of Channel 7 commentators Bruce McAvaney and Tamsyn Manou.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bruce McAvaney and Tamsyn Manou call famous 4x100m relay gold medal
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When replays rolled on their own faces, Manou and McAvaney could only laugh as if they had no recollection of their movements during the call.
“Oh my goodness,” Manou said.
McAvaney said: “That’s slightly embarrassing but, well, you’ve got to get excited, don’t you?”
Manou added: “I actually feel like the whole of Australia watching that would’ve been the same thing, because honestly when you get a surprise gold medal like that…”
Watch their brilliant call of a memorable race in the video at the top of the page.
“Let’s see how Lachie he goes. He got out well, Ashe got out well for Nigeria,” McAvaney began.
“We’re going to watch the first change. Ghana with Azamati. Let’s have a look. Josh Azzopardi’s taken off — oh, yes, it’s good. So Australia down the back straight. Nigeria and also Ghana and Canada are making ground.
“Here’s Law getting it. Good change, really good change. Coming up quickly though is Ghana at the moment. Into the straight. It’s Browning about to get the baton, Australia right there.
“He gets it and Rohan’s in the mix here. So Australia with Nigeria and Canada. Browning’s in front. Five metres to go. Browning’s in front.”
Manou: “YES!!!”
McAvaney: “Australia’s won! We’ve won the gold medal. Rohan’s hung on. We’ve won the gold medal. We haven’t won since 1974. It’s such a long time ago.
“I’m with a young woman whose dad was in that team at the same time. For Browning, it’s so special. For all of them it is and for us as well.”
The Aussies celebrate with their gold medals. Credit: Getty
Manou: “Rohan Browning, that was brilliant to hold on. Calab Law’s leg was amazing. Azzopardi down the back straight was fantastic. and Lachlan Kennedy, that first leg was brilliant. What a run. That was so, so exciting. Oh, Bruce, that was brilliant.”
McAvaney: “Well, when Rohan got it, we knew that De Grasse (Canada) and Saminu (Ghana) and Simbine (South Africa) were going to run at him. But he ran the leg of his life, Browning. He’s only come back into this team in the last year and a bit. Kennedy was magnificent. What about Lachie? He’s got a gold and a silver.
“And what about young Caleab Law? And Josh Azzopardi, who wanted the 100 and Rohan got the spot, it was sensational. The winning margin is four one-hundredths of a second. Four one-hundredths of a second. Australia, Canada and Nigeria (on the podium) — we’ve beaten the Olympic champions.”
Manou: “Look at the quality of teams they beat. Our 4×100 squads have worked so hard on their changes. They’ve had training camps and it just paid off. It was brilliant running, quality 4×100 teams we have there. That was absolutely ace.”
McAvaney: “Thrilling, breathtaking, unforgettable, you name it. Sort of hoped but didn’t really believe we could win. That photo, just frame it, somebody, please. I’m so happy for Rohan, I’m so happy for Lachie and Calab and Josh as we all are at home.”
The only sour point came after the race when two lengthy protests robbed the Aussies of a glorious podium moment.
The four sprinters and heat runner Chris Ius only received their gold medals after 11.30pm local time in Glasgow, with no fans in attendance and the stadium already in teardown mode.
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