Commonwealth Games, Day 2 Finals: Flying Fish Alex Perkins Claims Australia’s Third Gold Medal of the Night in the 50m Butterfly
Australia’s flying fish Alex Perkins has powered off the start to win her second gold medal of the Games with a brilliant win in the 50m butterfly.
The 25-year-old was never headed from the get-go after an impressive and precision display of underwater work to surface well ahead of the field, winning in 25.37 from South Africa’s Erin Gallagher (25.57) with New Zealand’s Hazel Ouwehand (25.76) taking bronze.
The Queensland Sunshine Coaster, coached by Michael Sage, has had a glorious start to the meet, dominating one of her pet events after winning her first gold on night one as a member of Australia’s all-conquering 4x100m freestyle relay with Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Meg Harris.
Perkins saying after the race: “It doesn’t really feel real..I don’t think it has really sunk in yet….it’s been. Big coupole of days with more racing than I’m used to but I’m just really proud of myself…that I was able to back up..and get the job done….
“It did take me a while to realise I’d actually won..I can’t really see through my goggles..but when it sunk in it was a relief.
“I felt my speed’s been really good…I was definitely chasing a personal best…I do think I’ve got a bit more in me but today’s just about getting your hand on the wall first.”
It was the sixth time Australia has won the event with Perkins joining Emma McKeon (2022), Cate Campbell (2018), Danni Miatke (2006) and the 2026 Chief de Mission Petria Thomas who won the in augural 50m butterfly gold in Manchester in 2002.
For 27-year-old Gallagher it was her second consecutive silver, finishing second to McKeon in Birmingham in 2022, and for 26-year-old Kiwi Ouwehand, it is the first medal for New Zealand in this event with all three girls having their sights set on LA28 when the 50m butterfly is swum at the Olympics for the first time.