LA GRANDE-MOTTE, France, Sept 20 AAP - Australia have set up a tight race to the finish of the World Lifesaving Championships after winning four gold medals on the opening day of beach competition in France on Saturday.
After ending the pool leg of the competition 74 points behind defending champions New Zealand, Australia clawed their way back with a dominant display at Couchant Beach to sit just 48 points adrift heading into the final day.
The quartet of Kristyl Smith, Miranda Bell, Naomi Flood and Pam Hendry took out the women's Rescue Tube Rescue with Shannon Eckstein, Tim Schofield, Ryan Napoleon and Lachlan Tame winning the men's.
Veteran Smith and Olympian Flood then combined to also win gold in the women's Board Rescue while Schofield and Eckstein did the same in the men's.
"If we do catch the Kiwis it will be true testament to the character and spirit of this team - they showed today they are never ever beaten," national head coach Danny Short said.
"We had some setbacks today but they fought back to win the 'double-double' which has kept us in the fight."
Smith was the stand out of the Australian team racing in every women's event.
She won silver in the board event then backed up to finish fourth in the B final of the beach sprint before claiming bronze in the women's beach relay alongside Flood, Hendry and Bell to earn Australia valuable points.
The final day of competition on Sunday will feature the iron and surf races as well as the Oceanman and Oceanwoman taplin relays with Australia chasing a first world championship title in six years.
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