Thompson Wins Seventh Swimming Gold

S Y D N E Y, Australia, Sept. 20, 2000 -- Jenny Thompson won a record seventhgold medal, Misty Hyman earned her first with an improbable upsetof “Madame Butterfly” and the United States swamped Australia inthe Olympic pool today.

Thompson anchored the United States to victory in the 800-meterfreestyle relay over the host Aussies.

Thompson, 27, snapped a tie with Germany’s Kristin Otto incareer golds by a woman swimmer, while tying gymnast Vera Caslavskaof the Czech Republic for the second-most Olympic golds by a woman.

The U.S. team of Samantha Arsenault, Diana Munz, Lindsay Benkoand Thompson won in an Olympic record 7 minutes, 57.80 seconds,breaking the old mark of 7:59.87 set by the Americans at the 1996Olympics.

Thompson of Dover, N.H., also tied Australian Dawn Fraser,Kornelia Ender of Germany and fellow American Shirley Babashoff formost Olympic medals by a woman swimmer with eight. Seven ofThompson’s medals have come in relays; she won a silver in the 100freestyle at the 1992 Olympics.

Australia earned silver in 7:58.52. Germany won bronze in7:58.64.

In another noteworthy event, Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands won gold in the 100 freestyle in 48.30 seconds, denying Russian Alexander Popov anunprecedented third straight Olympic title in the event.

Hyman Upsets O’Neill

Hyman, a 21-year-old from Phoenix, stunned defending championSusie O’Neill of Australia to win the 200 butterfly.

The American led all the way to win in an Olympic record 2minutes, 5.88 seconds, just missing O’Neill’s world record by sevenone-hundredths of a second.

“I’ve played it over so many times in my head, but I neverthought it would come true,” said Hyman, who, discouraged byhealth problems and slow times, was ready to quit swimming in May.

O’Neill finished second in 2:06.58. Petria Thomas of Australiatook bronze in 2:07.12.

American Relay Women Are Perfect

The Americans are 2-0 in the women’s relays so far. Thompsonswam the anchor leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay Saturday forher sixth career gold.

Arsenault led off for the Americans and had them in sixth placeafter 200 meters, while O’Neill had the Australians in first.

Munz pulled the Americans into second at 400 meters, and Benkokept them there to set up Thompson. As Thompson overtook PetriaThomas, Benko pounded on the starting block in Lane 4.

Lifetime Best for Hyman

O’Neill, known as “Madame Butterfly,” broke the oldest recordin swimming in May at the Australian Olympic trials when shelowered Mary T. Meagher’s 19-year-old world record.

But Hyman went out strong and held a body-length lead overO’Neill at the 150-meter mark. The crowd of 17,500 at the SydneyInternational Aquatic Center urged O’Neill on with shouts of“Susie!,” but the Aussie never made a run at Hyman.

“I swam as well as I could,” O’Neill said. “Obviously, I’m disappointed. Unfortunately, I know my best time would’ve doneit.”

Hyman, a first-time Olympian, swam a lifetime best to stunO’Neill, who was the heavy favorite. She broke out in a huge grinand screamed “Oh, my God!” over and over when she realized she’d won.

O’Neill swam over to congratulate her.

The Illegal Fish Kick

Until her shocking victory, Hyman was known mostly for using aunique underwater fish kick that was banned by FINA, the sport’sinternational governing body, in 1998. That forced her to changeher racing style.

“It was a huge challenge,” she said. “I had developed atechnique for swimming that brought me to an elite level. I was notsure if I was an elite swimmer anymore.”

Hyman was so discouraged and troubled with sinus and asthmaconditions that she called her trainer in May with a message: “I’mready to throw in the towel.”

After receiving her gold medal, a giddy Hyman waved her floralbouquet and was swamped by American teammates, who spilled out ofthe stands and knocked over a cardboard barrier in their rush tocongratulate her.

“I can’t believe it,” said Kaitlin Sandeno of Lake Forest,Calif., who was sixth in 2:08.81. “This all means the world forMisty and for our team. We’re real pumped right now. It just meanspeople they say can’t be beat can be beat.”

Rhythmic clapping broke out even before the 200 butterflyfinalists appeared on deck. As they walked single file to theirlanes, camera flashes twinkled in the stands and a quick chant of“USA! USA!” rang out for the two American women.

Seconds before the starting gun, a lone man cried out, “Let’sgo, Susie!”

Watching from the stands, Chelsea Clinton beamed after Hymanpulled off the biggest upset so far on the fifth night of theeight-day meet.

Popov Denied Third Straight Gold

In the men’s 100 freestyle, Popov rallied from sixth at the turnto claim the silver at 48.69.

“It wasn’t my best race,” said Popov, who trains in Australia.“I try to compete with a smile on my face. I almost did it.”

Gary Hall Jr. of Phoenix, second to Popov four years ago inAtlanta, took bronze in 48.73 — beating Australia’s Michael Klim byone-hundreth of a second. Neil Walker of Verona, Wis., was fifth in49.05.

“I wanted to get out there and race, but I didn’t know if I’dbe in the medal count,” said Hall, who said he was focusing on the50 freestyle. “To make it up there pumps me up a little bit.”

Shades of Spitz

Van den Hoogenband became the first man to sweep the 100 and 200freestyles since American Mark Spitz in 1972.

Before the man nicknamed “Hoogie” got in the pool,countrywoman Inge de Bruijn owned the spotlight with her secondworld record of the Olympics.

It was the 12th world record set or tied in five days at theOlympic pool.

De Bruijn qualified first for the eight-woman 100 freestylefinal in 53.77 seconds, lowering the mark of 53.80 she set in Mayin Britain.

“It was great,” she said before hurrying off to watchcountryman Van den Hoogenband in the 100 freestyle final. “Thelast seconds were very tough, but I think I can go faster.”

De Bruijn broke her first world mark Sunday when she won the 100butterfly.

Swimming in the lane next to De Bruijn, Jenny Thompson of Dover,N.H., was second-quickest in 54.40. Dara Torres of Beverly Hills,Calif., was third in 55.02. The final is Thursday.

“I don’t think I’ve got that oomph right now,” Torres said.

Domenico Fioravanti of Italy became the first to ever sweep themen’s breaststroke golds, winning the 200 by three body lengths in2:10.87. He became the first Italian swimmer to win Olympic goldwhen he won the 100 breaststroke.

Terence Parkin of South Africa took silver and Davide Rummolo ofItaly earned bronze. Fioravanti draped his left arm around Rummoloon the medals podium. Kyle Salyards of Lancaster, Pa., was sixth in2:13.27.

Krayzelburg Qualifies

Lenny Krayzelburg of Studio City, Calif., and Aaron Peirsol ofIrvine, Calif., qualified 1-2 for the 200 backstroke final.

Krayzelburg lowered the Olympic record for the second timeWednesday. He broke it in the morning preliminaries, then swam evenquicker in the semifinals with a time of 1:57.27. Peirsol wassecond in 1:58.44.

“I’m not really worried about the records,” Krayzelburg said.“I’ve definitely got a lot more in the tank.”