Hoogenband topples Popov in 100m freestyle

Sydney: Pieter van den Hoogenband toppled Alexander Popov as Olympic 100 metres freestyle champion on Wednesday, ending the Russian's eight-year reign.

Australia's Michael Klim took the early initiative to lead at the turn but it was tight all the way until van den Hoogenband eased slightly clear some 15 metres from the finish to win in 48.30 seconds.

Popov tried in vain to catch him and had to settle for the silver in 48.69, with American Gary Hall, who finished second to Popov at the Atlanta Olympics, taking the bronze in 48.73. Klim was just 0.01 seconds behind in fourth place.

Van den Hoogenband, who broke Ian Thorpe's 200 freestyle World record on Sunday and equalled it in winning the title on Monday.

Earlier on Wednesday, American Misty Hyman deposed Australian favourite Susan O'Neill as women's 200 metres butterfly champion, inflicting the first major championship defeat on the defending champion since 1994.

Hyman forged away on the last length and O'Neill could not respond.Hyman won in two minutes 05.88 seconds, just outside O'Neill's 2:05.81 World record. O'Neill took the silver in 2:06.58 and Petria Thomas of Australia the bronze in 2:07.12.

O'Neill, who finally captured the 200 butterfly world mark which had been set by American Mary T Meagher in 1981, had not been beaten at a major championships since she took the bronze medal behind two Chinese at the 1994 world championships.



(c) Reuters Limited.