Thursday, 8 February 2024:

Australia have claimed their first swimming gold medal at the aquatic world championships in Doha, clinching a nail-biting win in the 4x1500m mixed open-water event.

The team of Moesha Johnson, Chelsea Gubecka, Nicholas Sloman and Kyle Lee held off a fast-finishing Italy to win by two-tenths of a second in the Qatari capital.

West Australian Lee, 21, touched in a time of one hour three minutes 28 seconds to just pip the defending-champion Italians (1.03:28:20), with fellow Europeans Hungary (1.04:06:80) claiming bronze more than 28 seconds behind.

Hot favourites France finished sixth, behind Germany and the US.

Australia's victory comes a day after 25-year-old Gubecka picked up silver in the 5km open-water race, narrowly beaten after a thrilling duel with Dutch superstar Sharon van Rouwendaal.

The mixed relay success was the Dolphins' second gold of the meet after another Queenslander in 22-year-old Alysha Koloi took out the women's 1m springboard event.

AAP