By Ian Gordon, PA Sport

Ian Thorpe's dreams of emulating the magnificent seven of swimming legend Mark Spitz were shattered at the penultimate obstacle.

The Australian swimming phenomenon was denied his sixth straight gold medal at the Commonwealth Games when he was beaten into second place in the 100m backstroke by compatriot Matt Welsh.

The margin of victory was a shade over six tenths of a second and Thorpe can now only amass six golds if he wins one as expected in Sunday's 4x100 medley relay.

Six golds and a silver would be more than enough for mere mortals but such is Thorpe's pursuit of perfection that you suspect even the slightest flaw on his Commonwealth copybook will grate with the great man.

He would dearly have loved to have joined Spitz, who rewrote swimming's record books with his seven golds at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

Like the magnanimous champion he is, however, he refused to register any disappointment as he took the unfamiliar silver position on the victory podium.

"That's my best time," said Thorpe, who recorded a personal best of 55.38 secs, a stroke away from Welsh's Commonwealth record of 54.72.

"That's a good result for me. I'm more than happy to come second. If I hit the wall and I've done my best I can be happy with the result. I've never focused on just getting seven golds. I just concentrated on seven races.

"I'll be able to walk away happy. There's no disappointment.

"I'm very happy with the way I've swum. I congratulated Matt. He's world champion. He's an excellent backstroker and a great swimmer."

Thorpe revealed, however, that he intended to continue with the backstroke, though it is clear that if he is to overhaul Welsh at the Athens Olympics in two years' time there is much work to be done.

"I will probably carry on with this stroke," said Thorpe, still only 19 and whose endorsements alone have earned him around £12m.

"I might also pick something else up or drop something. I'm not decided."

In truth, however, he was always likely to be a bridge too far even for the phenomenal sporting prowess of Thorpe.

It was the first time he had ever competed in the event.

His training doesn't even include backstroke, his personal best before the race was more than a second and a half outside that of Welsh, and in his Aussie team-mate he was facing the world champion in the discipline.

On top of that, almost a week of competitive racing had left even his 6ft 4ins frame, size 17 feet and albatross-like arms screaming for a compassionate break.

But still the anticipation at Manchester Aquatics Centre was at a level reserved for only the most revered of sportsmen.

As his name was announced there was a huge cheer among the 3,000 spectators and as his black wet suit slid into the water the expectancy resembled that of Tiger Woods on the first tee or Sachin Tendulkar at the crease at Lord's.

The Thorpe backstroke, however, is not as long or as rhythmic as his freestyle discipline. There is not the same effortless power, though in truth the difference is merely marginal.

As it was, Thorpe turned third behind Welsh and Malaysia's Alex Lim, who eventually took bronze, and it is testimony to the Thorpedo's surging stamina that he was able to cut the gap, overtake Lim and get within respectable distance of Welsh.

It was a highly creditable silver by a man who is literally worth his condsiderable weight in gold.

The magnificent seven and Spitz's record will have to wait for another time.