Thorpe Sets World Mark, Thompson Wins 6th Gold

S Y D N E Y, Australia, Sept. 16, 2000 -- Race after race, world records fellwith abandon in the pool. It started and ended with “TheThorpedo.” In between came America’s Jenny Thompson.

Thompson added to her Olympic legacy with a record-tying sixthcareer gold medal, anchoring the U.S. women’s 400-meter freestylerelay tonight, while Australian star Ian Thorpe put his markon the games by easily winning the 400 freestyle.

In all, the veteran and the teen-age rookie contributed to thefive world marks set on an exhilarating opening night of swimming.

Five records, four races.

Sixth Gold for Thompson

Thompson cruised to the wall, clocking 3 minutes, 36.61 secondsto better the old mark of 3:37.91 by China in 1994. She ripped offher cap and goggles and received pats on the head from teammatesAmy Van Dyken, Dara Torres and Courtney Shealy.

“I don’t think about medal counts,” Thompson said. “It’s an honor, but I’m really not focused on that at this point.”

The 27-year-old Thompson and Torres became the first U.S. womenswimmers to win three golds in the same event. Torres won gold onthe relay in ’84 and ’92, while Thompson’s other golds came in ’92 and ’96.

Van Dyken sobbed and the 33-year-old Torres had tears welling inher eyes as the “Star-Spangled Banner” was played and the U.S.flag was unfurled. Van Dyken had endured two shoulder surgeriessince winning four golds in 1996, while Torres is making a comebackafter seven years out of the pool.

The victory tied Thompson, of Dover, N.H., with Kristin Otto ofGermany for most golds by a female swimmer. Thompson also surpassedspeedskater Bonnie Blair for most golds by an American woman.

Still alluding the Thompson, however, is her first individualgold.

Thorpe Lives Up to Hype

Prior to that event, the 17-year-old Thorpe sliced through the water in anelectrifying 3:40.59, thrilling the crowd of 17,500 — many adoringAussie fans — who saluted him with chants of “Thorpey, Thorpey”after he climbed out of the pool.

Thorpe lowered his previous record of 3:41.33 that he set in Mayat the Australian trials in the Olympic pool.

He then swam the anchor leg in the Australians’ 400-meterfreestyle relay, helping set another world record mark — 3:13.67 —and putting away a tenacious U.S. team, which took silver.

The American men had never lost a 400 free relay in Olympic orworld competition. They finished in 3:13.86, trailed by Brazil’s3:17.40.

Australia’s Michael Klim set a world record of 48.18 seconds inthe first 100-meter leg of the relay, shaving .03 seconds off theformer mark, set by Russia’s Alexander Popov in 1994.

“It’s pretty amazing to be in front of your home crowd,”Thorpe said. “I’m so glad I performed well in front of them. It’sreally a dream come true. I’m on such a high.

In that first race, Massimiliano Rosolino of Italy earned silver in 3:43.40, whileKlete Keller of Phoenix, Ariz., won bronze in 3:47.00. Chad Carvinof Laguna Hills, Calif., was sixth in 3:47.58.

Home Crowd Goes Berserk

After touching the wall, Thorpe looked up at his time, andglancing skyward, mouthed the words “Thank you.” He then pumpedhis fists in triumph.

The only one wearing a bodysuit that covered him neck to ankle,Thorpe was first off the blocks and extended his lead throughouthis signature event.

Fans waved green-and-yellow Aussie flags and cheered wildly forthe biggest star at the Sydney International Aquatic Center.American first daughter Chelsea Clinton and Aussie golfer GregNorman dropped by the pool to catch “Thorpedo-mania.”

“I really wanted to bring it home for the crowd,” Thorpe said.“I just had all this emotion inside of me when the crowd cheeredwhen we all walked out,” he said.

He had set an Olympic record in morning qualifying, finishing in 3:44.65.

Thorpe high-fived fans as he walked toward the medals podium andreceived a standing ovation as he climbed to the top spot. He wavedthe red-white-and-blue Australian flag above his head and thencarefully examined his gold medal, turning it over in his hand — asif he couldn’t believe it was really his.

“He makes it look so easy,” said awe-struck American JoshDavis, a three-time gold medalist at the Atlanta Games. “I believehe’s the best swimmer in the history of the world.”

Klochkova Sets World Mark

The first world record of the swimming competition came beforeThorpe dived in the pool.

Yana Klochkova of Ukraine won the first swimming gold, takingthe 400 individual medley in a world record 4:33.59. She broke themark of 4:34.79 set by Chen Yan of China in 1997. Chen failed toqualify for the final.

Americans were shut out for the first time since the UnitedStates boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games.

Kaitlin Sandeno, a 17-year-old from Lake Forest, Calif.,finished fourth in 4:41.03. Maddy Crippen of Philadelphia was sixthin 4:44.63, after qualifying with the slowest time.

Klochkova led the entire race. Sandeno was second beforedropping to third on the backstroke leg at 200 meters.

Yasuko Tajima of Japan won silver in 4:35.96, while BeatriceCaslaru of Romania took bronze in 4:37.18.

Stage Is Set for Butterfly Final

World record holder Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands led eightwomen into Sunday’s 100 butterfly final by finishing first in thesemifinals in 57.14 seconds. Australian Petria Thomas was second in58.11.

Thompson qualified third in 58.18, just ahead of Torres, who was fourth in 58.35.

Domenico Fioravanti of Italy was the fastest qualifier in the100 breaststroke semifinals. He led the way in 1:00.84, followed byRoman Sloudnov of Russia in 1:01.15. Ed Moses of Burke, Va., wasthird in 1:01.22.