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Monday, September 18
Malchow sets Olympic mark in 200 butterfly
Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia -- Fly, Malchow, Fly.
Inspired by placards bearing that message and a dominating U.S.
performance, Tom Malchow set another record at the Olympic pool
Monday (Sunday night ET), leading preliminaries of the 200-meter
butterfly at 1 minute, 56.25 seconds.
|  | | Michael Phelps, the youngest member of the U.S. team, has the third-fastest time. |
Malchow nipped .01 seconds off the Olympic mark set by American
Mel Stewart in winning gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
The Americans blew everyone out of the water Sunday night
(Sunday morning ET), finishing 1-2 in a pair of finals and winding
up with six medals overall. In their much-hyped showdown with the
Australians, the U.S. team held a 9-2 edge in total medals after
Day 2 of the eight-day competition.
"Whatever we can do to keep the momentum going," Malchow said.
"Last night was unbelievable."
American fans returned to the Sydney International Aquatic
Center wearing T-shirts and holding up signs that urged on another
medal hopeful: "Fly, Malchow, Fly."
"I finally got that out of the way," said Malchow, one of the
strongest supporters of the high-tech bodysuit. "I feel good and
I'm happy with the suit."
The 24-year-old native of St. Paul, Minn., already holds the
world record in the 200 fly. He swam 1:55.18 at a June meet in
Charlotte, N.C.
Fifteen-year-old Michael Phelps of Baltimore, youngest member of
the men's Olympic swim team since 1932, showed himself to be a
medal contender, as well. He used a strong kick to win his heat and
post the third-fastest time in the morning, 1:57.30.
"I tried to do the same race I did at trials," Phelps said.
"I'm not nervous at all."
Malchow and Phelps advanced to the 16-man evening semifinals,
with the final set for Tuesday night.
"I'm not concerned with records or time here," Malchow said.
"I want to save something (for the final). It's about winning."
He was the youngest man on the Olympic swim team four years ago,
when he won a silver medal at Atlanta. Defending Olympic champion
Denis Pankratov of Russia, swimming in Phelps' heat, faded badly in
the final 50 meters and was ninth-fastest overall, 1:58.01.
Denys Sylant'yev of Ukraine, who was sandwiched between the
Americans in second at 1:56.42, called Malchow "very
unpredictable."
"He can be great," the Ukrainian said. "It just depends on
what's in his mind."
Four American women moved on to the evening semifinals.
In the 200 individual medley, Cristina Teuscher of New Rochelle,
N.Y., was fifth-fastest at 2:14.17, while Gabrielle Rose, a native
of Brazil who now lives in Memphis, Tenn., ranked eighth with
2:15.55.
Lindsay Benko of Elkhart, Ind., was fourth-fastest (2:00.13) in
the 200 freestyle prelims, while Rada Owen of Chesterfield, Va.,
barely advanced to the semis as the No. 15 qualifier, 2:01.10
"It was a lot of nerves because it's the first swim," Teuscher
said. "I let up by the end because where it counts is tomorrow
night."
Rose swam for Brazil at the 1996 Atlanta Games but made the
American team this year after gaining dual citizenship. When she
heard her name and country announced before the race, "I had a big
smile on my face," she said.
Ozana Verevka of Russia paced the medley field at 2:13.48, well
off the Olympic and world records.
Australian star Susie O'Neill, serenaded with songs and chants
of "Susie! Susie!" from the home crowd, was top qualifier in the
freestyle at 1:59.14. Helene Muller of South Africa was the only
other swimmer to break two minutes, touching at 1:59.89. She was
followed by Claudia Poll of Costa Rica (2:00.11), bronze medalist
the previous night in the 400 freestyle.
"I'm really excited to be fourth," Benko said. "I was
nervous. But I love swimming here in Australia."
Benko won five medals, including silver in the 200 free, at the
Pan Pacific championships held last year at the same pool.
O'Neill didn't come close to Franziska van Almsick's world
record of 1:56.78, which has stood since 1994. The German qualified
seventh for the semis, well off her record pace at 2:00.37.
Eight world records fell on the first two days of competition.
The evening finals were highlighted by a showdown in the men's 200
freestyle between Australia's Ian Thorpe, going for his third gold
medal of the Games, and Pieter van den Hoogenband of the
Netherlands, who broke the "Thorpedo's" world record in the
semifinals Sunday.
American Lenny Krayzelburg was a heavy favorite in the 100
backstroke, and gold medals also will be handed out in the women's
100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.
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Dolan, Bennett win gold for U.S. in swimming
De Bruijn breaks own world record in 100 butterfly
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