Legend Ian Thorpe has hailed Stirling University student Ross Murdoch as the star performance of the Commonwealth Games swimming.

The Australian – a former multiple Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion himself – admits he was impressed by the 20-year-old after a stunning personal best saw him defeat poster boy and pre-Games favourite Michael Jamieson to claim gold in the 200m Men’s Breaststroke Final.

Thorpe said: “For me the highlight in from Tollcross has to be Ross Murdoch. He recorded a massive improvement in time to beat Michael Jamieson and for me it was the standout performance.

“I think he can be a real star of the future at World and Olympic level so hopefully he can kick on from this now to go right to the top and I think he will.” Murdoch’s time of 2:08:78 in the heats was more than five seconds quicker than his previous best and he took another second off that time in the final.

That was even more remarkable given the University of Stirling student’s only senior international experience was finishing 11th in the 100m breaststroke and 30th in the 50m event in the 2013 World Championships.

Murdoch had never beaten Jamieson, 25, over 200m in a major final but produced a British and Commonwealth record of two minutes 7.30 seconds to win gold.

He was reduced to tears during the medal ceremony as the scale of his achievement became apparent.

The new Commonwealth champion said: “There is no way that just happened. I can’t believe it. That was amazing. Coming down that last 100m with the crowd it was just incredible and it was a massive PB – I’m so surprised.

“I felt great in the heats this morning but I didn’t expect that. I will remember this moment for the rest of my life, especially as I was able to do it in front of my family, my friends, my girlfriend and this amazing home crowd.” Murdoch went onto pick up another bronze in the 100m breast stroke the next night to top off a massive Games for the youngster – all of which made the Balloch-raised star the pride of Stirling University.

Professor Gerry McCormac, the principal and vice-chancellor of the university, said: “We’re delighted at Ross’s success. He is an amazing ambassador for the university and Scottish Swimming and manages a punishing schedule in the gym and the pool.

“His hard work and dedication has certainly paid off and it was great to see him win gold at Glasgow 2014. We’d like to pass on our congratulations to Ross and his family on this amazing success.”