Aussie Swimmer Zac Stubblety-Cook Miraculously Clinched Gold From THIS Position On The Final Lap

Australia has yet another gold medal in the pool.

This time, it's Olympic debutant Zac Stubblety-Cook who writes his name into the history books with a stellar victory in the men's 200m breaststroke event in Tokyo.

The Aussie produced an epic come-from-behind performance to steal the gold medal right from under his opponents noses while also shattering the Olympic record.

And when you see just how far behind the leading back he was at the final turn, you start realise just how impressive the victory was.

It turns out he was actually in sixth place when he touched the pool wall.

PA

With Dutchman Arno Kamminga leading the race by a country mile, Stubblety-Cook had plenty to do if he stood any chance of even standing on the podium - let alone clinching gold.

As the swimmers reached the pool wall and began their final lap, Kamminga's looked odds on to have a gold medal wrapped round his neck at the end of the day.

But little did he know that Stubblety-Cook had timed his genius game plan to perfection.

PA

Knowing that his rival would eventually gas out, Stubblety-Cook kicked into another gear for the final 50m and made up an insane amount of ground catch up.

Digging deep, the Aussie kept his cool stormed into the lead, swimming almost two seconds faster than Kamminga in the final lap.

Stubblety-Cook powered home and eventually touched the pool wall to cap off one of the greatest comeback victories in recent years.

When still images emerged online showing just how far behind he was at the final turn, it makes you realise just how much ground he had to make up in order to become an Olympic gold medallist.

And, well, he certainly didn't disappoint.

"That last 50 metres, Zac Stubblety-Cook was two seconds faster than Kamminga who came second," Ian Thorpe added.

"Over 50 metres he made up that distance. 1.7 behind at the 50 and won by 1.4 of a second. Incredible.

"Sticking to a plan you've worked on in this situation under pressure and knowing that when Kamminga went out so fast."

The young swimmer was "lost for words" during his poolside interview with Channel 7 and was struggling to explain the overwhelming emotions rushing through his body just minutes after such an epic race.

He did, however, eventually calm down a bit, telling News Corp: "It is unbelievable I am lost for words, it's been tough five years, I am lost for words to be honest.

"I think was there to execute a race plan and I was happy with that. Obviously I'm pretty happy with the way it pulled off. I knew that maybe a few people would go for it from the start, because that's how the last Olympics was won, it was won by someone that just went out last night and I could see him and just hold on.

"So I think today I knew that there would be someone doing that and I was just happy enough to execute my race plan and do what I do best."

Topics: olympics, Tokyo Olympics, Gold Medal, swimming, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry