Emma McKeon breaks Ian Thorpe record as swimming world erupts over Kyle Chalmers act at Olympics

Emma McKeon has surpassed Ian Thorpe's record by winning her sixth gold medal at the Olympics - becoming Australia's most decorated athlete all by herself. McKeon came into the Paris Games with five gold medals and 11 overall, which gave her the most overall medals by an Australian at the Olympics.

But she now has the most gold medals as well after moving out of a tie with the legendary Thorpe, who won five across his career. McKeon was part of the women's 4x100m freestyle relay team that won a fourth-consecutive gold medal on Saturday night - one of three golds Australia won on the opening day.

It marked the sixth gold medal of McKeon's legendary career, taking her past the great Thorpe. "Dominant... I keep on using this word for this Australian team," Thorpe said in commentary for Channel 9. "I don't think there is a more dominant Australian team in any code, any sport. Please tell me if there is one. Happy to be wrong on it."

McKeon teamed up with Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Meg Harris to clinch the gold - marking Australia fourth-straight triumph in the event since the 2012 Olympics. It was also a special achievement for Jack, who considered quitting the sport when she was hit with a four-year ban for testing positive to a banned substance in 2019.

Jack later had her ban cut in half after it was found she inadvertently ingested the banned drug, but she still missed the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She qualified for her first Olympics in Paris and now has her first Olympic gold medal.

"I can't imagine and there's very few people that would ever happen to," Thorpe said. "Most people would have probably given up, if they had faced the same circumstances as Shayna."

And Bronte Campbell also pocketed a gold medal for her swim in the relay heats. Competing at her fourth Olympics, Campbell was part of the six-swimmer team that got the job done.

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Kyle Chalmers under world record time in 100m freestyle relay

The relay girls joined Ariarne Titmus (400m freestyle) and Grace Brown (road cycling time trial) as gold medallists for Australia on Saturday night - the country's most successful opening day in Olympic history. The Aussies won five medals altogether on Saturday, with Elijah Winnington (400m freestyle) and the men's 4x100m relay team grabbing silver.

Jack Cartwright, Flynn Southam, Kai Taylor and Kyle Chalmers put up a valiant fight against the all-conquering USA team, but had to settle for silver. Swimming fans and commentators were left in awe over Chalmers' anchor leg, with the Aussie veteran producing the fastest split by anyone in the whole race and going under the world record time for the 100m free.

Chalmers produced an incredible 46.59 for his 100m swim - under the world record of 46.80. It means the Aussie will be a red-hot chance to win gold in the individual event. "I do not think we could have wished to hope for anything better than that," Giaan Rooney said in commentary. "That was an exceptional swim."

One fan wrote on social media: "Kyle Chalmers is an absolute freak. That final leg was insane." Another person commented: "That was some sort of swim from Chalmers in the final leg. Shots fired for the individual 100m freestyle. What an amazing opening day for Australia."