Thorpe takes his fourth gold

IAN THORPE collected his fourth gold medal of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester last night when he anchored Australia to victory in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay.

Thorpe brought Australia home in a Games record of seven minutes 11.69 seconds and brought Australia’s tally for the night to five titles and 11 overall in three days of competition in the pool.

Canada were second in 7:17.17 and England third in 7:22.56.

Thorpe has so far won gold in the 200 and 400 metres freestyle and 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays.

He set the fastest time in the evening’s 100 metres freestyle semi-finals, clocking a Commonwealth Games record of 49.31. The final is today.

Thorpe is also contesting the 100 backstroke and 4x100 medley relay in his bid for a record seven golds in a single Commonwealth Games. There might be more powerful gold medallists at these Commonwealth Games but there can be few more pleasing on the eye than Sarah Price. Price set a games record of 1:1.06 in winning the 100 backstroke last night.

After Karen Pickering on the first day of competition and Zoe Baker on Wednesday, Price made it a third night of glory for England’s women.