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Saturday, September 16
Thompson, Torres add to their legacies
SYDNEY, Australia -- Race after race, world records fell
with abandon in the pool. It started and ended with "The
Thorpedo." In between came America's Jenny Thompson.
|  | | Amy van Dyken, Dara Torres, Courtney Shealy and Jenny Thompson, left to right, enjoy their gold medal and world record. |
Thompson added to her Olympic legacy with a record-tying sixth
career gold medal, anchoring the U.S. women's 400-meter freestyle
relay Saturday, while Australian star Ian Thorpe put his mark
on the games by easily winning the 400 freestyle.
In all, the veteran and the teenage rookie contributed to the
five world marks set on an exhilarating opening night of swimming.
Five records, four races.
Thompson cruised to the wall, clocking 3 minutes, 36.61 seconds
to better the old mark of 3:37.91 by China in 1994. She ripped off
her cap and goggles and celebrated with teammates Amy Van Dyken,
Dara Torres and Courtney Shealy, who patted her on the head.
"I don't think about medal counts," Thompson said. "It's an
honor, but I'm really not focused on that at this point."
The 27-year-old Thompson and Torres became the first U.S. women
swimmers to win three golds in the same event. Torres won gold on
the relay in '84 and '92, while Thompson's other golds came in '92
and '96.
Van Dyken sobbed and the 33-year-old Torres had tears welling in
her eyes as the "Star-Spangled Banner" was played and the U.S.
flag was unfurled. Van Dyken had endured two shoulder surgeries
since winning four golds in 1996, while Torres is making a comeback
after seven years out of the pool.
The victory tied Thompson, of Dover, N.H., with Kristin Otto of
Germany for most golds by a female swimmer. Thompson also surpassed
speedskater Bonnie Blair for most golds by an American woman.
Still alluding the Thompson, however, is her first individual
gold.
The 17-year-old Thorpe sliced through the water in an
electrifying 3:40.59, thrilling the crowd of 17,500 -- many adoring
Aussie fans -- who saluted him with chants of "Thorpey, Thorpey"
after he climbed out of the pool.
Thorpe lowered his previous record of 3:41.33, which he set in
May at the Australian trials in the Olympic pool.
He then swam the anchor leg in the Australians' 400-meter
freestyle relay, helping set another world record mark -- 3:13.67 -- and putting away a tenacious U.S. team, which took silver.
The American men had never lost a 400 free relay in Olympic or
world competition. They finished in 3:13.86, trailed by Brazil's
3:17.40.
The first world record of the swimming competition came before
Thorpe dived in the pool.
Yana Klochkova of Ukraine won the first gold, taking the 400
individual medley in a world record 4:33.59. She broke the mark of
4:34.79 set by Chen Yan of China in 1997. Chen failed to qualify
for the final.
Americans were shut out for the first time since the United
States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games.
Kaitlin Sandeno, a 17-year-old from Lake Forest, Calif.,
finished fourth in 4:41.03. Maddy Crippen of Philadelphia was sixth
in 4:44.63, after qualifying with the slowest time.
Klochkova led the entire race. Sandeno was second before
dropping to third on the backstroke leg at 200 meters.
Yasuko Tajima of Japan won silver in 4:35.96, while Beatrice
Caslaru of Romania took bronze in 4:37.18.
World record holder Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands led eight
women into 100 butterfly final Sunday by finishing first in the
semifinals in 57.14 seconds. Australian Petria Thomas was second in
58.11.
Thompson qualified third in 58.18, just ahead of Torres, who was
fourth in 58.35.
Domenico Fioravanti of Italy was the fastest qualifier in the
100 breaststroke semifinals. He led the way in 1:00.84, followed by
Roman Sloudnov of Russia in 1:01.15. Ed Moses of Burke, Va., was
third in 1:01.22.
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ALSO SEE
Thorpe wins two golds on historic day
Complete swimming results
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