Van den Hoogenband continues record-breaking streak

“I didn’t give it my best,” he said. “I still have the relay. I think I can go one-tenth faster tomorrow.”

Klim was the second straight Australian record-holder to fall prey to van den Hoogenband’s record-setting exploits. On Sunday he eclipsed Ian Thorpe’s world record in the 200m free in the semi-finals, then went on to match his new world mark of 1:45.35 in beating Thorpe to Olympic gold in Monday’s final.

“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.”

Even though he was confident he could go faster, the 22-year-old swimmer was still a bit non-plussed by his remarkable run. “I’m amazed with my performance,” said van den Hoogenband, who led Klim and two-time defending champion Alexander Popov or Russia into Wednesday night’s final.

“I can’t even fathom how fast that is,” said American Neil Walker, who qualified fifth-fastest.

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. O’Neill’s night wasn’t over. She was to return later to race the semi-finals of the 200m butterfly. “I’m just glad it’s all over,” she said of the victory, which left her free to focus on her world record 200 fly races.

“What a relief.”

The men’s 200m butterfly gold went to America’s 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,” he said. “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 IM. Her time of 2:10.68 was an Olympic record. It came four days after her world record-setting victory in the 400m Medley, the first final of the Games. Romania’s Beatrice Caslaru added a silver to the 400m medley bronze she won on Saturday, and American Cristina Teuscher was third. (AFP).