Open water mixed relay team wins Australia’s first swimming gold at Doha world titles
Gold medallists Kyle Lee, Nicholas Sloman, Chelsea Gubecka and Moesha Johnson after the Open Water Mixed Relay 4x1500m in Doha. Photo: Getty
Australia has claimed its first swimming gold medal at the aquatic world championships in Doha, clinching a nail-biting win in the 4x1500m mixed open water event.
The team of Moesha Johnson, Chelsea Gubecka, Nicholas Sloman and Kyle Lee held off a fast-finishing Italy to win by two-tenths of a second in the Qatari capital.
West Australian Lee, 21, touched in a time of one hour three minutes 28 seconds to just pip the defending-champion Italians (1.03:28:20), with fellow Europeans Hungary (1.04:06:80) claiming bronze more than 28 seconds behind.
Hot favourites France finished sixth, behind Germany and the US.
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Australia’s victory comes a day after 25-year-old Gubecka picked up silver in the 5km open-water race, narrowly beaten after a thrilling duel with Dutch superstar Sharon van Rouwendaal.
The mixed relay success was the Dolphins’ second gold of the meet after another Queenslander in 22-year-old Alysha Koloi took out the women’s 1m springboard event.
