Canada's Alexandra Orlando goes loopy

She equalled the record haul at a single Games achieved by Australian swimmers Ian Thorpe and Susie O'Neill and Canadian swimmer Graham Smith.

The 19-year-old won golds in the rope, ball, clubs and ribbon.

This is added to the team and all-round titles she won in the previous two days of competition in Melbourne.

Orlando said: "I'm actually a bit speechless right now, but I'm glad I did it for my country, the sport and myself."

Her achievement surpassed her idol Erika Leigh Stirton's five rhythmic gymnastics golds at the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur.

I've trained 30 hours a week on this Alexandra Orlando

"I set this goal in March last year and to have realised it is unbelievable," she added.

O'Neill won six gold medals in Kuala Lumpur while Thorpe matched that in Manchester four years ago. Smith won six at the 1978 Games in Edmonton.

Orlando, the highest-ranked rhythmic gymnast in Canada and North America, credited her Games success to a punishing training regime.

"I've trained 30 hours a week on this, with extra ballet and cardio sessions on top of that," Orlando said. "I hope people take it more seriously.

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"Not too many people know what rhythmic gymnastics is."

The sport is dominated by eastern European countries with Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan all prominent in the top 10.

Australian swimmer Libby Lenton and Indian pistol shooter Samaresh Jung had both tried to better the record of six golds in Melbourne but had to be content with five apiece.