Thorpedo loses steam as Dutchman flies

Thorpedo loses steam as Dutchman flies
Julian Linden

Sydney, Sept 18: Ian Thorpe's gruelling assault on swimming's world records finally caught up with him on Monday when he was beaten by Pieter van den Hoogenband in the 200 metres freestyle final at the Sydney Olympics.

The 17-year-old Thorpe was dead-level with the Dutchmanwhen they tumble-turned for the final lap but weakened in the last few strokes to finish 0.48 seconds behind van den Hoogenband's time of one minute 45.35 seconds, equalling the record he set in the previous night's semifinals."I was just so flat. I was really hurting at the end of the race," Thorpe said. "But Pieter really swam a great race. It was a real privilege to swim that race."

While most of Thorpe's rivals have been running scared, vanden Hoogenband declared his intention to gate-crash Australia's pool party when he broke the Sydney teenager's old world record of 1:45.51 in Sunday night's semifinals.

Thorpe, competing in the other semifinal a few minutes later, responded with a 1:45.37, to set up a mouthwatering final that lived up to everyone's expectations.

Van den Hoogenband, 22, was second behind American Josh Davis at the 50 metre turn with Thorpe in third spot but moved into the lead at the halfway stage. They hit the 150 locked at 1:18.21, a tenth of a second inside world record pace.

Thorpe, who won the 400 metres freestyle gold medal on Saturday with a world record, was expected to win from there because of his endurance. But he did not count on van den Hoogenband's reserves of Dutch courage and began to tire after three hard days of racing. "I just wanted to win so badly, it's unbelievable I won," van den Hoogenband said. "I have so much respect for Ian, he is a good swimmer."

Already a national hero, Thorpe was attempting to join a list of just three Australians swimmers Murray Rose (Melbourne, 1956), Shane Gould (Munich, 1972) and sprinter Betty Cuthbert (Melbourne, 1956) to win three gold medals at a single Olympics.

But he will still probably achieve the feat on Tuesday with the 4x200 freestyle relay.

The Australians, led by Thorpe, caused a boil-over when they beat the United States to win the 4x100 but are red-hot favourites for the longer relay. They already hold the world record in the event and although the lineup will not be announced until just before the final, Thorpe will almost certainly be partnered by Michael Klim, Grant Hackett and Daniel Kowalski.

Klim is the current world champion for 200 freestyle and the world record holder for 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Hackett, the world champion over 1,500 freestyle, held the 200 freestyle world record until Thorpe shattered it last year. Kowalski was a bronze medallist in 200 freestyle at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Australian head coach Don Talbot is also considering using Thorpe for the 4x100 medley relay to give him a shot at a possible fourth gold medal but it seems unlikely with Klim swimming the freestyle leg and Geoff Huegill the butterfly. "I had a great race tonight. I was happy with my race. I thought I would go faster but the ball doesn't always bounce in your court," Thorpe said.