Commonwealth bronze glory for Leamington star Lauren

The 24-year-old showed incredible resilience to fight for third spot and a place on the podium, touching the wall in 27.56. In an electric event, Canada's Kylie Masse won gold with Australia's Iona Alexandra Anderson claiming silver. After qualifying third fastest in the heats, Team England's Cox look well placed to be in the medal fight at Tollcross International Swimming Centre. She certainly delivered and has now added to the two medals she won at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Cox qualified third fastest from the heats with a time of 28.14 and was second in her race behind Masse. In the semi-final, she also qualified as third fastest in 27.85 to improve on her heats time. In the 100m backstroke event on Saturday, Cox had qualified fourth fastest for the final with a time of 1:00.39 and progressed that time to earn a fifth place finish in Sunday's final, touching the wall in 1:00.35. Cox, with Adam Ramsay-Peaty, Ed Mildred and Freya Colbert, also finished just outside the podium places in the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay but improved on Team England's heats swim to finish fifth in 3.45.59. Australia roared to a new Games record of 3.40.46, but they did not have it all their own way with South Africa leading for nearly 300m, thanks to Pieter Coetze‘s blistering leadoff leg. South Africa held on for silver, while Duncan Scott did what Duncan Scott does and ran swimmers down on the anchor, catapulting Scotland into bronze. England, who were favourites for silver, were never really in the race and finished a distant fifth. In the backstroke leg, Canadian Masse had the edge on Iona Anderson this time, after being relegated to silver in the individual 100 back behind the Australian. They were the only two female leadoffs under 1.00, with Lottie Cullen touching in 1.00.87 ahead of Cox (1.00.99) and the Isle of Man’s Ella Justice (1.03.36), all three missing their lifetime bests. Freya Colbert was given the backstroke leg instead of Cox in the women's 4x100m medley heats. A successful Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham four years ago saw Cox win two bronze team medals in the 4x100m medley and 4x100m mixed medley. She also finished fourth in the 50m back – 0.03 off Kaylee McKeown in third – and fifth in the 100m.