'A gorgeous human' gets her solo moment and still shares it with her mates

Meg Harris achieved a career milestone at the Commonwealth Games, winning her first individual 100m freestyle gold medal. While accustomed to standing atop the podium with her dominant Australian 4x100m freestyle relay teammates, this victory marked a personal triumph, celebrated with the permission of Mollie O'Callaghan and Shayna Jack, who joined her on the podium.

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It's pretty incredible, I've never done that before. I've never been in that position. Hopefully this is just the start of my journey. I'm pretty happy with that. These girls are absolutely incredible, so any chance I get to stand on the podium with them is great.

"It's pretty incredible, I've never done that before. I've never been in that position," Harris said after her win. "Hopefully this is just the start of my journey. I'm pretty happy with that. These girls are absolutely incredible, so any chance I get to stand on the podium with them is great." This win follows her first individual qualification for the 100m event at the national trials in June.

The 24-year-old admitted to a struggle with motivation post-Paris Olympics, finding renewed passion through her preferred 50m event, where she secured a world title in Singapore last year. "I've always loved the [100m] race," she stated. "The 50m was something I've always loved and always known I've enjoyed racing that … but the 100m is always the one I've been working towards in the long run. I guess I need to take a step back and enjoy it for a while."

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I've always loved the [100m] race. The 50m was something I've always loved and always known I've enjoyed racing that … but the 100m is always the one I've been working towards in the long run. I guess I need to take a step back and enjoy it for a while.

Harris's gold was one of seven secured by Australia on the night. Alex Perkins in the 100m butterfly and Jenna Forrester in the 400m individual medley also celebrated breakout performances. Forrester's win added to her earlier surprise victory in the 200m backstroke.

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We all really get around each other and that's what makes Team Australia really special and successful.

Perkins highlighted the team's supportive environment, noting, "We all really get around each other and that's what makes Team Australia really special and successful." She also praised Harris, calling her "just also a gorgeous human. I was really proud, it was really inspiring to watch her before my event." Perkins and Harris, both in their mid-20s, share a similar journey of years of dedication leading to their first individual major event gold medals.

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She's amazing; all those girls are in the 100m freestyle. [They're] so successful in that event and [Harris is] just also a gorgeous human. I was really proud, it was really inspiring to watch her before my event.