Australian great Ariarne Titmus was left “in tears” as the nation’s all-conquering swimming team took the pool by storm to begin the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Predicted to once again dominate in Glasgow, Australia finished the first day with a staggering six gold medals – well clear of second-placed Nigeria (three).

World record holder Lani Pallister opened the medal tally with a dominant performance to take out 400m freestyle gold, staking her claim to be the new face of Australian swimming.

Pallister’s win comes 36 years after mother Janelle claimed gold in the women’s 4x200m relay at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

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“The family legacy’s in safe hands,” commentator Alister Nicholson said on Channel 7.

“Any time you swim under that four-minute mark is an exceptional, world-class swim,” Titmus added.

But such are the standards to which the 24-year old holds herself that a time of three minutes 59.56 seconds wasn’t enough to satisfy her.

“I’m not super stoked with the time,” she told Seven.

“I feel like you probably could have seen that on my face at the end.

“But my first title for the week, it’s important to build and keep going and just move on from it.”

Pallister began a gold rush for the Australians that continued with Jenna Forrester claiming victory in the 200m backstroke.

The 23-year old, who missed qualifying for the 400m medley at the 2024 Olympics by just 0.15 of a second, set a new personal best as she stormed home.

Remarkably, the gold came after winning bronze in the 400m freestyle just moments before – a double act that left Titmus “in tears”.

“That has to be one of the all-time backups I have ever seen,” Titmus said.

Further glory was to come in the men’s 100m butterfly S10, with Alex Saffy and Col Pearse combining for a gold-silver double act.

Close friends away from the pool, Pearse said he “couldn’t be happier” to run second behind Saffy.

“He obviously did more work than I did this season. And honestly, I love that little rival,” Pearse told Seven.

“It’s like older brother, younger brother type stuff. So happy for him.”

Thumbs up: Alex Saffy reacts after winning the men’s 100 metre butterfly S10 final. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Source: AP

A dominant night was capped off with blitzing gold medals in each of the men’s and women’s 4x100m freestyle finals.

Meg Harris, Shayna Jack, Alex Perkins and Mollie O’Callaghan finished 4.26 seconds ahead of the next-placed team; while in the men’s, Kyle Chalmers, Flynn Southam, Kai Taylor and Harrison Turner secured a fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in the event for Australia.

“The Aussies have absolutely cleaned up,” commentator Matt White said on Seven.

However, the moment of the day arguably came outside the pool, with para powerlifter Hani Watson securing bronze in her event.

The 43-year old broke through to win Australia’s first powerlifting medal in 16 years at the Birmingham Games four years ago.

Speaking to Seven afterwards, Watson set her sights firmly on competing at the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, where she has lived since moving from Auckland as a baby.

“Just don’t give up your dreams,” she said.

“Disabilities or not, chronic pain or not, just keep going, keep giving anything a go.

“I’m 44 and I’m still going. I’ve got a dream for Brisbane 2032, and I’m not going to give it up. So get out there, get it done.”

The gold rush leaves Australia comfortably ahead in first on the medal tally, with six gold, two silver and five bronze.

Hosts Scotland sit third with two gold and two silver, ahead of England, who are fourth with one gold, four silver and three bronze.