Aussies forced to give way

"That feels really good because for once we don’t have to listen to `Advance Australia Fair,” Limpert said after clocking 2 minutes, 15.05 seconds. "Australia’s dominated this meet so much that anytime you can beat them it’s a great feeling.”

Hickman admitted he almost blew his brave charge in the butterfly, which netted him a record in 1:57.11. "It was a bit tough," said Hickman. "I thinkeveryone thought I was going to stop in the last 10 metres, including myself.”

He went out so hard that silver medalist Bill Kirby of Australia remembered seeing the englishman pull out in front and thinking, "I’m having a shocker.” Kirby finished in 1:59.57, unable to catch up over the final 25 metres. England’s Stephen Parry claimed a bronze to match another bronze by compatriot Sue Rolph in the women’s medley.

Foster, who has the English flag, a red rose and the Olympic rings tatooed over his heart, earned his turn to enjoy "God Save The Queen” by clocking 22.58 seconds for the 50 metres. South Africa’s Bredon Dedekind took the silver medal in 22.70 while world bronze medalist Michael Klim was third in 22.86.

The Aussies, however, are poised to round off their most successful Games with up to five more gold medals on the final day of competition on Thursday. The Australians have the closing 1,500 metres freestyle race at their mercy with world champion Grant Hackett, world record holder KierenPerkins and Olympic and world medallist Daniel Kowalski to fight it out.

Australia also have hopes of gold in the men’s 200m Individual Medley with Matt Dunn, 200m butterfly with Susie O’Neill, top Commonwealth-ranked Meredith Smith in the 200m backstroke and men’s 100m medley relay.