Swm: Thorpe now Australia's greatest Olympian

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2004
Swm: Thorpe now Australia's greatest Olympian

IAN THORPE has become Australia's greatest Olympian by winning the contest dubbed the
race of the century.

THORPE avenged his Sydney 2000 loss to Dutchman PIETER VAN DEN HOOGENBAND, beating
the defending champion in the 200m freestyle to secure his fifth Olympic gold medal.

THORPE'S second gold medal of the Games catapults him above Australian Olympic greats
DAWN FRASER, MURRAY ROSE and BETTY CUTHBERT, who all won four golds.

The world recordholder also relegated American wonderkid MICHAEL PHELPS to bronze.

GRANT HACKETT finished fifth.

THORPE'S power in the pool has helped maintain Australia's no. 2 spot on the Olympic
medal table tonight with six golds, behind China.





Meanwhile, Australia's women are continuing to underpin the nation's Olympic push.

BROOKE HANSON has taken silver in the 100m breaststroke with world recordholder LEISEL
JONES winning bronze.

SUZANNE BALOGH clinched Australia's fifth gold of the Games in the women's trap.

Australia has also put in solid performances in the team sports.

The Hockeyroos have beaten South Africa 3-0 and the water polo team has won a tussle
with Italy 6-5.

Australia's baseballers may miss a semi-final berth after a 3-0 loss to Taiwan, but
the softballers edged out the Taiwanese 1-0.

In tennis, DELTA GOODREM watched as boyfriend MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS lost to Belgian OLIVIER
ROCHUS 3-6 6-0 6-1.

NICOLE PRATT and SAMANTHA STOSUR have also gone out in the doubles, but ALICIA MOLIK
downed ELENA DEMENTIEVA of Russia in the singles.

In diving, medal hopes LOUDY TOURKY and LYNDA FOLAUHOLA have finished a disappointing
fourth in the women's 10 metre synchro platform.

NATALIE COOK'S bid for a second successive beach volleyball gold medal remains on track
after her second round victory with partner NICOLE SANDERSON.

AAP RTV sp/mo/jjs

KEYWORD: OLY AUST (ATHENS)

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