Brit girls beat the Aussies at last

At last, something for British sports fans to celebrate this miserable summer! Four of our girls won a gold medal at the World Swimming Championships today - Britain's first success in the championships since David Wilkie in 1975.

But (and of course there's a but) the triumph came in such chaotic circumstances, with two disqualifications, that the result has been declared "unofficial" and judges have postponed the victory ceremony for 24 hours until the confusion is sorted out.

Our girls were only awarded first place in the 200 metres freestyle relay because the Australians and Americans were disqualified. The sting in the tale for the British girls is that it's now possible the Americans, who finished second, may be reinstated as winners after they appealed.

The British "win" was published in the official results but the team's elation was cut short when it was announced that the Americans may yet take gold even though their second swimmer, Cristina Teuscher, had left her block 0.06 seconds before lead-off swimmer Natalie Coughlin touched.

Heated exchanges among coaches and officials followed and a final public announcement said a victory ceremony would not be held until tomorrow, when the result is decided.

Australia had touched first in seven minutes 56.00 seconds, with the US just behind in 7:56.53 and Karen Pickering hauling Britain up to finish third in 7:58.69.

But first the Americans were registered on the electronic scoreboard as disqualified, moving Britain up to silver, and then Australia suffered the same fate, apparently giving Britain their first gold of the championships.

Germany, the defending champions, and Japan were the teams which followed Britain home and appeared to have won medals when the Americans and Australians were initially ruled out.

Coming after a series defeat for the British and Irish Lions at rugby union in Australia, Tim Henman's Wimbledon semi-final disappointment, two Ashes Test hammerings by Australia at cricket and the fact that all the home challengers faded away in The Open golf championship, we are desperate for some sporting success.

The swimmers - Nicola Jackson, Janine Belton, Karen Legg and Karen Pickering - went into the final in Fukuoka, Japan, with high hopes because they were the fastest qualifiers and broke the British record in the semifinal.