Ariarne Titmus got Australia's women off to a golden start by winning a race of record breakers on a rocking opening night of the Paris Olympic swimming meet at the La Defense Arena on Saturday.
The Dolphins added another gold in the 4x100 metres freestyle relay, with Australia also taking two silvers from the four finals and with their reputation as a powerhouse of the pool as bright as ever.
Titmus set the tone by defending her 400 metres freestyle title in a huge battle with Canada's Summer McIntosh and American great Katie Ledecky.
Ledecky, gold medallist in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and silver in Tokyo in 2021, had to settle for bronze as 17-year-old sensation McIntosh secured the silver and her first Olympic medal.
The race had been compared to the epic men's 200 freestyle "Race of the Century" showdown between American Michael Phelps, Australian Ian Thorpe and Dutch giant Pieter van den Hoogenband in 2004.
The crowd were up and hollering from the start, a massive contrast to the last Games held under pandemic restrictions, and even if the drama proved to be less than promised it remained a night to savour.
"My legs are a bit tired, but I'm just relieved more than anything, I probably felt the expectation and pressure for this race more than anything in my life to be honest," said Titmus.
Ledecky, now with 11 Olympic medals, had hoped to go faster but could not complain.
"We have a lot of respect for each other and we love competing against each other, it brings the best out of each of us," she said.
"It's something special and something that we enjoy especially since we're the top three performers in that event."
Australia started with a silver when Elijah Winnington finished second to Germany's Lukas Maertens in a men's 400 metres freestyle final stacked with champions. South Korea's world champion Kim Woo-min took the bronze.
"I was right at the front the whole time and still made it to the finish. That wasn't the case in the last few years. I let myself be beaten there. Not this time," said Maertens of his first Olympic gold.
Caeleb Dressel has made a habit of winning only gold medals at the Olympics and the American swimmer, who won his eighth on Saturday in Paris, said he still experiences the same high as when he got his first gold eight years ago.
The United States beat Australia and Italy to win the 4x100 metres freestyle at La Defense Arena as Dressel swam the anchor leg and brought gold home -- his fifth relay gold at the Olympics and third straight in the event.
Dressel was all smiles as the American flag was raised and the anthem played out, but the 27-year-old soon had tears streaming down his face when he embraced his family -- including his five-month old son -- moments later.
"It's really special, making the team in front of him and then winning a gold in front of him. Just checking little boxes that I never would have thought to create throughout my career," Dressel told reporters.
"You can't explain this moment until you're on the podium watching the flag go up... I remember how it was for me, my first gold. I mean I lost it, I made it off the podium but it's special seeing that and being a part of that with these guys.
"It's an extremely special moment and no one can take that away from them (his teammates). Relays are a little more special. It takes me right back to my first gold, it really doesn't get old."
Dressel won two golds in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and added five more at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
While he was unable to keep his emotions in check, his teammate Jack Alexy was far more stoic on the podium despite claiming his first Olympic gold medal.
"I was just truly honoured to be part of this relay and watching Caeleb finish that off for us and making Team USA proud and starting off with a gold," the 21-year-old said.
"I was able to find my family (later) and that was awesome. That's when I got really emotional. I saw them tearing up, they've been awesome the whole ride."
But it was Hunter Armstrong's scorching split of 46.75 that really helped the U.S. pip Australia to the gold.
"I just went in! I will give my entire body and soul up for these boys," he said.
"And I knew I had to give Caeleb everything I had (for the final leg), so I'm glad I was able to get my job done.
Xie Yu of China struck gold in a dream Olympic debut, displaying the poise of a veteran in the
men's 10 metre air pistol event on Sunday.
After China won the 10 metre air rifle mixed team event on Saturday, Xie (240.9) mined another gold from the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, beating Italian Federico Nilo Maldini (240) who took the silver medal.
Paolo Monna (218.6) claimed bronze with clear daylight between the top three and rest of the field.
"If I hadn't won, this may have been my biggest regret," Xie told reporters.
"It is very difficult to be selected for China for the Olympics, so to be able to stand here today, on this higher stage, is very significant for me."
Xie carried a wafer-thin cushion of 0.4 going into the final shot after Maldini had reduced the gap in the elimination section.
The Italian lost his momentum at the last minute, however, and stood gazing at the floor after signing off with a modest 9.5.
Xie scored 10 to seal the gold and flashed a shy smile as his teammates in bright red-and-white erupted in the stands.
"We both made some silly mistakes but we have no regrets whatsoever," Maldini said, referring to compatriot Monna.
"I had good vibes since the beginning of the final," Monna said. "It's certainly emotional and a very rare one because we are friends.
"This is the first time we're on the podium together and it is the most important one."
