Heyns mark fails to fetch a penny

Last January, the world governing body FINA approved World records in the 50 metres backstroke, 50 metres breaststroke and 50 metres butterfly. Previously they had been recognised as world bests.

Heyns, though, found to her chagrin that she was ineligible for the $ 50,000 bonus awarded for world records at the Games because the 50 metres breaststroke was not one of the listed events.

"All I know is there was no fine print," said Heyns. "It said a World record equals $ 50,000, so I went for the record. It would have been nice if I was eligible for it."

Goodwill Games officials hastily conferred and laterissued a statement saying they would award Heyns $ 10,000.

"Bonus money for swimming world records set during the Goodwill Games are for officially contested events on our sports menu," the statement said.

"This does not diminish in any way her superlative effort. With that in mind, the Goodwill Games will award Penny Heyns $ 10,000 bonus for her record-setting performance, pending ratification by FINA."

Less than half an hour after breaking the record, Heyns was in the pool again to win the 200 breaststroke in two 2:26.73 seconds as the World Team over-powered China 86-35.

The United States, led by five times Olympic champion Jenny Thompson and Cristina Teuscher, swept the first six events of the evening and captured 10 of 14 races overall to beat Germany 78-44 and win the gold medal.

At Madison Square Garden, Italian Paolo Vidoz provided the upset on the final evening of boxing finals by outpointing the hulking Cuban super-heavyweight Alexis Rubalcaba 9-3.

Vidoz, an unlikely looking figure in amulti-coloured strip with voluminous shorts, kept his hands high and caught Rubalcaba with counter-punches as the Cuban began to tire.

Rubalcaba’s performance so angered the Cuban corner that he was slapped on his face before coming out for the fifth and final round, all to no avail.

Cuba won six gold medals overall but there was plenty of encouragement for the young US team in featherweight Teuance Shepherd and light-welterweight Ricardo Williams who both won their bouts.

Williams, in particular, looked an outstanding prospect at the age of 17, showing maturity beyond his years in an elegant display against compatriot Ebo Elder.

Former US president Jimmy Carter made a trip to watch boxing after witnessing Olympic silver medallist Michelle Kwan overcome a fall to win women’s figure skating gold.

Kwan quickly recovered from a fall on a triple loop to win a popular victory before a crowd of 10,558 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.