Kyle Chalmers was demoted to Dolphin No2 in the 100m free a day ago, but today he demoted another giant dolphin to No2 on a measure of a different kind: in winning the 50m butterfly in a snap with teammate Ben Armbruster, Chalmers collected a 10th career Commonwealth gold - which granted him a match on gold but a win overall, with one silver more than the legend Ian Thorpe.

Chalmers and Armbruster flew into the end wall in a Games record 22.73 seconds, the race for honours at LA2028 in the stroke dashes that will be introduced, taking shape with every passing show of speedy one-lap sprinting.

Port Lincoln's 'Big Tuna' thought he had that in the bag before the 100m free final, but Flynn Southam took the crown and King Kyle talked about the change that comes when the athlete becomes a mum or dad:

Southam Denies Chalmers Another Slice Of Wenden History

Flynn Southam has promised an upset with super-speedy split in relays this week, and today in Glasgow he delivered with a 47.13 victory in the blue-ribband final, ensuring that legend Mike Wenden (winner in 1966, 70 and 74) remains the only man ever to retain the title

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Family Man Chalmers Raises Doubts About LA2028

Sprinter will head home after the Games in Glasgow and discuss whether a last Olympic dream is viable now that he’s a dad and his wife and mother of their child is an athlete, too…

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Another dad finished third, Cam McEvoy, who had held Chalmers' arm aloft at Rio 2016 after a 100m free final he had entered as world No 1 that season, but on a day that would not end with his top speed relevant to his rank. Many pathways have parallels, but all are unique, as Adam Ramsay-Peaty was reminded this week while collecting two bronze medals on breaststroke and a silver this evening in the men's medley relay with England mates (the relay files coming later...):

Peaty Power, Perspective & The Unique Nature Of Every Pathway

As we list the qualifiers for semis and finals on Day 5 at the Commonwealth Games here in Glasgow this morning, here’s a reflection on that part of the pathway of Adam Peaty (now Ramsay-Peaty) played out under super troupers for better, worse or the best you can be

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Chalmers' story has some parallels with those of Peaty and McEvoy - but the differences are just as relevant, if not more.

Among the differences is the counts that shape the careers of athletes. Today, the 2016 100m free Olympic champion surpassed the 10 golds and one silver won by Ian Thorpe in Commonwealth waters - by one silver ... 10 and 2.

The landmark milestone came as Australia's dominant team was said to have notched up a new record tally of golds at a single Games - more than 28 at Gold Coast 2018. Those counts need looking at again -0 and we will - they imagine that Games tallies that include different numbers of events, and that within one and then two completely separate categories, Olympic and Paralympic, can be directly compared. They can't. Well show you how and why when the dust settles...

Harris and the Hefty Medal Hauls of Dolphins

Meanwhile, Queensland speedster Meg Harris now eyes a superstar sorority of folk who have won six golds at a Commonwealth Games.when she added the 50m free title to her tally.

The 24-year-old, who sensationally beat Mollie O'Callaghan in the blue riband 100m free, completed a sprint freestyle double to capture her fifth crown in all.

She clocked 24.23 at the helm of yet another sweep in Glasgow. Alex Perkins clocked 24.53 to add a silver to her four golds in the pst six days, while Shayna Jack, in her career swan song race, took bronze in 24.57.

All those medals also add up to more than AUS$1m in prize money for the Australians, as we note during heats this morning:

2 Down, 4 Left Standing - GB 200 Heroes Line Up For Home Nation Vs AUS Battle

A battle of 4 Brits from 3 home nations Vs 3 Dolphins and a Kiwi awaits in the curtain-closing session at the Tollcross International Pool this evening here in Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

In other finals:

‘Like Mother, Like Son’: Taylor’s Outside-Smoker Gamble Pays Off

“You’ve always got a chance when you’re in the race, and I just went out there with no fear. I figured I could either swim it like I did and risk not being able to bring it home, or always wonder what might have happened if I’d have gone out hard.” - Kai Taylor

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Angharad Evans Races Into Scotland’s Book Of High Commonwealth Honours

2 golds, a silver and a bronze in the bag, Evans says: “It’s just really surreal. I didn’t go into this meet expecting any sort of medal. I just wanted more experience and I guess to put the demons to bed and I have done that with the help of some medals. So, extremely proud of myself.”

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Ben & Kyle Snap Takes Chalmers Past Thorpe’s Record As Dash Finals Deliver 2 More Dolphin Sweeps

A snap for gold takes Kyle Chalmers one silver medal passed the record Commonwealth Games medals haul that had stood to Ian Thorpe since 2002 - 10 golds for both, Chalmers with 2 silvers, 1 more than the legend

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord