#691, Tuesday, July 31, 2001 THE REST
Aussies Steal U.S. Swimming Crown
By John Pye
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FUKUOKA, Japan - Behind the efforts of Ian Thorpe, Australia clinched the No. 1 spot at the World Swimming Championship on Sunday with a world record and a stirring relay win. Thorpe watched with his teammates from the bleachers as Grant Hackett got Australia's 12th gold medal and Petria Thomas led the women's 400-meter medley relay to her third gold medal and Australia's 13th. The U.S. team that dominated the world championship in 1988 and topped the Sydney Olympic standings with 33 medals, including 14 gold, wound up with nine gold and 26 overall to finish behind Australia (13-4-6) and China (10-6-4). "The Americans have been No. 1 for a long time and I'll make no bones about it, we want to beat them and we did just that," said Australia's head coach Don Talbot. "It's fabulous and it makes me feel great." China's last campaign in Perth was plagued by the drug scandal surrounding its female swimmers, but its divers restored some dignity this time. Olympic champion Tian Liang clinched victory with a high-scoring final dive from the 10-meter platform, giving China its eighth diving gold. | |
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