Swimming: World beaters!

Karen Pickering struck gold and Zoe Baker shattered a world record as England's women stole the limelight from Ian Thorpe on the first night of the Commonwealth Games swimming.

Pickering, 30, from Ipswich, brought a packed crowd at the Aquatic Centre to its feet by winning the 200metres freestyle final, while Dorset's Karen Legg took silver. The Aussies had been expected to dominate, but Petria Thomas and Elka Graham could only dead-heat for bronze.

Even Pickering was stunned by the 1min 59.69sec swim which clinched her 11th Games medal. She said: 'I can't believe I just did that. I had been feeling good but I knew it would be a tough race. We have got a one-two, which is incredible, and it's the third time running we girls have won the first event.'

Baker's world record of 30.57sec in the 50m breaststroke semi-final was a triumph for self-belief.

The Sheffield-born swimmer, 26, had to move to New Zealand six years ago after being denied Lottery funding in Britain because her event is not on the Olympic schedule.

She said: 'Getting the world record was always my aim in the semis. I won't have to care about that now. All I'll be going for is gold.'