Bennett Wins Gold in 800m Freestyle
S Y D N E Y, Australia, Sept. 22, 2000 -- Americans Gary Hall Jr. and AnthonyErvin shared Olympic gold in the 50-meter freestyle today, tyingin 21.98 seconds.
Teammate Brooke Bennett captured the marathon of women’s swimming in an Olympic record 8 minutes, 19.67 seconds — lowering the old mark of 8:20.20set by Janet Evans at the 1988 Olympics.
Two-time gold medalist Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands took bronze in men’s 50 with a time of 22.03.
Alexander Popov of Russia was sixth in 22.24, failing to win anunprecedented third consecutive Olympic title.
“I don’t mind sharing the gold medal podium,” Hall said. “Itcouldn’t have happened to a nicer guy, a guy I practice with allthe time. It was like another day of practice.”
Teammates, Partners, Winners
Hall, of Phoenix, and Ervin, of Valencia, Calif., are trainingpartners in Arizona. Ervin, who at 19 was the youngest swimmer inthe eight-man final, is the first swimmer of black heritage to makea U.S. Olympic team.
The Americans shared a joyous hug and Ervin leaned over to tellHall, “It couldn’t have ended up any better.”
Hall, the silver medalist to Popov four years ago in Atlanta,was actually faster at the U.S. trials in August, where his time of21.76 set an American record and was the second-fastest in history.
Ervin also finished second to Hall at the trials with thethird-quickest time in history.
“The 50 was my place to shine,” Ervin said. “Thankfully, Idid.”
Medal Marks Comeback for Hall
By tying for the gold, Hall avenged his third-place finishbehind Van den Hoogenband and Popov in the 100 freestyle Wednesday.
Hall’s medal capped a troubled four years since Atlanta. He wassuspended for marijuana use by the sport’s international governingbody, then diagnosed with diabetes. He requires several insulationshots daily to keep his blood sugar levels in check.
“There’s a million reasons why I shouldn’t be here, likediabetes,” he said. “To come out on top is such a thrill.”
The Americans prevented Van den Hoogenband from winning histhird gold medal of the games. The Dutchman already had won the 100and 200 freestyles, and broke the world record in the 100 Tuesday.He was trying to become the first swimmer to win the 50, 100 and200 freestyles in the same Olympics.
Popov, the world’s dominant sprinter since 1992, settled for asilver in the 100 freestyle. He was the two-time defending championin the 50 and 100 freestyles.
“We had a tie for the gold medal in the Olympics,” Ervin said.“That makes us the best in the world in no uncertain terms.”
Compared to a Legend
Bennett, a 20-year-old from Plant City, Fla., became the firstwoman since Evans in 1988 to sweep the 400 and 800 freestyles.
“It’s so exciting, so overwhelming to get two gold medals andbreak records,” said Bennett, who was 3.45 seconds off Evans’12-year-old world record of 8:16.22.
“Her times are the ones everybody looks at. I told myself thatsomeday I’d like to break her records,” she said.
Yana Klochkova of Ukraine was second in 8:22.66 for her thirdindividual medal in these games.
Kaitlin Sandeno, a 17-year-old from Lake Forest, Calif., tookbronze in 8:24.29.
“I got my best time by four seconds,” Sandeno said. “Thattime is unbelievable for me. I was not sure I was going to getthere.”
Bennett was 16 when she won the 800 freestyle at the AtlantaOlympics, where Evans closed her stellar career with a sixth-placefinish.
Bennett joined Evans as the only women to win two consecutiveOlympic 800 freestyle titles.
Bennett joined Evans as the only women to win two consecutiveOlympic 800 freestyle titles.
“To do it again four years later is definitely somethinggreat,” Bennett said. “I’m proud of myself.”
Klochkova won the first swimming medal in Sydney with aworld-record time in the 400 individual medley and followed up withvictory in the 200 IM. She was swimming in her first majorinternational 800 freestyle final.
De Bruijn Continues Torrid Pace
Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands kept up her torrid pace,lowering her own world record in the women’s 50 freestylesemifinals. She qualified first in 24.13 seconds—bettering the24.39 seconds she swam at a meet in June in Brazil.
De Bruijn won the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
“It’s a shock again, to be honest. I saw my time and I said‘Holy smoke,“‘ De Bruijn said. “It’s ridiculous. Someone asked me what my limits are. I don’t know. But the year 2000 is definitely my year.”
Therese Alshammar of Sweden was second in 24.80. Dara Torres ofBeverly Hills, Calif., was third in 24.98. Amy Van Dyken ofEnglewood, Colo., the 1996 gold medalist, was fourth in 25 seconds.The final is Saturday.
Final Kick Wins it for Froelander
Lars Froelander of Sweden spoiled Australia’s hopes for a 1-2finish in the 100 butterfly, overtaking favorite Michael Klim inthe final meters to win gold in 52.00 seconds.
Klim, the world-record holder, was second in 52.18, while Aussieteammate Geoff Huegill was third in 52.22. Froelander’s upsetquieted the sellout crowd of 17,500, which was its usual raucousself in cheering on the Australians.
“I knew Lars was going to be a danger,” Klim said. “He’s been a very consistent performer the last few years, so congrats to him.Every time I get in the water, I try to swim a best time, try toget a gold medal. Unfortunately in sports, it doesn’t work out thatway.”
Ian Crocker, an 18-year-old from Portland, Maine, where thereare no 50-meter pools, claimed fourth in 52.44, which broke theAmerican record.
“I know in that race I gave it everything I had,” he said. “Idid it the right way — mentally, physically, emotionally,everything — so I’m not upset in the least.”
Mocanu Sweeps Backstroke Events
Diana Mocanu, a 16-year-old from Romania, completed a sweep ofthe women’s backstroke events, winning the 200 in 2:08.16. She tookgold in the 100 in an Olympic-record time Monday despite cominginto Sydney ranked seventh in the world in both races.
Roxana Maracineanu of France, who was born in Romania, wonsilver and Miki Nakao of Japan took bronze. Amanda Adkins ofGhanna, Ohio, was fifth.