Australians pool resources to match the Dutch treat

Ian Thorpe lost his 200m freestyle world mark – and Olympic gold – when van den Hoogenband posted a world record of 1:45.35 not just once but twice, in the semis and again in the final.

The Australians extracted a measure of revenge when they crushed the 4x200m free relay world record with a time of 7:07.05 – wiping nearly two seconds off the previous record of 7:08.79 set by Australia in last year’s Pan Pacific Championships.

It was the 10th world record in four days of Olympic swimming competition. Thorpe, Klim, Todd Pearson and William Kirby finished 10 meters ahead of the United States, who clawed their way to silver in ahead of the Dutch, despite van den Hoogenband’s anchor split of 1:44.88.

The United States finished in 7:12.64 and the Netherlands in 7:12.70. Although van den Hoogenband’s relay split can’t count as a world record, it certainly betrayed no sign of the fatigue van den Hoogenband spoke of.“I didn’t get any sleep last night,” van den Hoogenband said. "I stayed up thinking about the 200. When I got back to the village everyone was congratulating me.”

And van den Hoogenband’s assessment of his 100m free performance was an ominous warning to Klim and two-time defending champion Alexander Popov, the third-fastest qualifier. He said he didn’t go all-out, because he was saving himself for the relay. “I didn’t give it my best,” he said. “I think I can go one-tenth faster tomorrow.”

Despite his confidence, the 22-year-old still seemed a bit non-plussed by his remarkable run. “I’m amazed with my performance,” van den Hoogenband said. “I can’t even fathom how fast that is,” said American Neil Walker, who qualified fifth-fastest in the 100m free.

Susie O’Neill gave Australians something to cheer about in the first final of the night, winning the 200m freestyle in a time of 1:58.24. However, she said the adoring chants of “Susie, Susie, Susie” didn’t really improve her swim. “I tried not to listen because they were putting me off,” she said. “I just closed my eyes and tried to swim my own race.” Slovakia’s Martina Moravcova was second in 1:58.32 and 1996 gold medallist Claudia Poll had to settle for bronze in 1:58.81. “I’m just glad it’s all over,” O’Neill said of the victory, which left her free to focus on her 200m fly semi-final later in the evening. “What a relief.”

The chants of of “Susie” were replaced by “Aussie, Aussie” as she and compatriot Petria Thomas dueled down the stretch of their semi-final, O’Neill leading the way into the final.

The men’s 200m butterfly gold went to American world record-holder Tom Malchow, in an Olympic record of 1:55.35. Malchow, the surprise silver medallist in Atlanta, had dreamed of reaching the top step of the podium ever since.

“For four years I wanted this moment,” said Malchow, who set the world record in June. “The world record was a little taste of how it would feel.”Denys Sylant’yev of Ukraine was second in 1:55.76 and Australian Justin Norris was third in 156.17. Yana Klochkova of Ukraine completed a medley double with a victory in the women’s 200m individual medley.