WA RISING STAR FIRES IN DOHA GOLD RUSH

Isaac Cooper and the women’s 4x100m medley relay team have ensured Australia finished the world swimming championships on a high, winning two gold medals on the final night in Doha to bring their tally in the pool to three.

It came as WA rising star Iona Anderson claimed gold as Australia’s 4x100m medley relay team staked its claim as the best on the planet.

Shayna Jack produced a stunning final leg to take Australia to first place after Anderson, Brianna Throssell and Abbey Harkin had laid the platform. These were Jack and Throssell’s sixth medals of the eight-day campaign, and Harkin’s fifth.

“Every single girl here did their job, that’s why we are No.1. (Australia) are in a great position (heading into Paris),’’ Jack said.

WAIS scholarship holder Anderson, 18, had already made a name for herself, winning silver medals in the 50m and 100m backstroke last week. Throssell is also a West Australian, now swimming out of Queensland.

Cooper put previous heartbreak behind him to top the podium in the men’s 50m backstroke. He was soon followed by the women’s 4x100m medley relay team who claimed the final gold of the meet to confirm the Dolphins’ third place on the medal table. With three gold, nine silver and four bronze, Australia’s 16-medal tally in the pool was only exceeded by the USA (20 overall, with eight gold).

China won more gold (seven) than the Aussies in an 11-medal haul that also included three silver and one bronze.

The closing night gold medals took Australia’s overall tally at the combined world aquatics event to seven gold, 12 silver and five bronze — with other podium places coming in the diving (two gold, two silver, one bronze), open water (one gold, one silver) and high diving (one gold) competitions.

Sam Williamson, in the 50m breaststroke, claimed Australia’s other gold in the pool.

On Sunday Cooper stunned world-record holder, American Hunter Armstrong, leading from the start to beat the defending champion by 0.2 seconds. Poland’s Ksawery Masiuk was third.

The Queenslander even hit the lane rope multiple times on his way to claiming the title in 24.13 seconds.

“I told my coach I would love a go at going under 24 (seconds) tonight but I whacked my finger a couple of times … the roof is curved … so it was a bit of a mind game to swim straight,” Cooper said.

Fellow Queenslander Jack was unable to follow his lead, finishing fourth in 24.27 in a race won by 50m butterfly gold medallist Sarah Sjoestroem.