Jack Laugher starred again for Team England, as double digit medals were collected for the sixth time of this Games, winning a total of eleven total medals on Day 8.
It was heartbreak for Laugher four years ago in Glasgow when he only managed silver, but he was able to make amends with a stunning gold medal-winning performance in the men’s 3m springboard. The 21-year-old continued England’s success on the diving board by finishing over 60 points clear of the competition to make it two golds from two at the Gold Coast for Laugher.
“It wasn't a great build-up,” Laugher admitted, having finished fifth in qualifying. “But to have a great competition and a great start to the international season, I'm really happy”.
Later in the day, in the final medal event of the day, Lois Toulson, who is Laugher’s girlfriend, crept onto the podium to secure bronze in the 10m platform final.
Elsewhere, at the Nerang State Forest, Team England tasted success in the outdoor cross-country cycling. Annie Last and Evie Richards secured a convincing one-two finish after leaving Haley Smith with too steep a challenge, with the Canadian only able to take bronze.
Sophie Hahn was victorious in the women’s T38 100m final, finishing over 0.5 seconds clear of second place. Hahn marked her Commonwealth debut in emphatic fashion, picking up the gold while setting a Games record in the process to continue her nation’s dominance in the para-events.
Along with Hahn’s victory, Kyle Langford and Dina Asher-Smith followed suit later that afternoon. Langford smashed his personal best to take silver in an agonisingly close 800m final, as he was beaten at the line by just 0.05 seconds. Asher-Smith, competing in the women’s 200m final, ran phenomenally to snatch bronze despite the heavy advances of those around her in a successful day on the track.
On the field, Shara Proctor secured bronze with a 6.75m leap in the women’s long jump final, with countrywoman Lorraine Ugen’s incredible final jump enough to see her finish fourth.
Luke Cutts and Adam Hague fought admirably until the bitter end in the men’s pole vault final with Hague walking away with the bronze.
Georgina Nelthorpe secured Team England’s first medal in the Wrestling after she was successful in her bronze medal match.
“It was a good match,” a breathless Nelthorpe explained. “I've put two years into training for this, worth every minute of it”.
In the final medal of the day, the women’s bowls triples team were able to hold off an early scare against Canada to snatch bronze in a tense bronze medal match, giving England their first bowls medal at the Gold Coast.