Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2007-03-27 From: Xinhuanet

BEIJING, March 27 — LIBBY Lenton bagged her second gold medal of the world championships in Melbourne and Pieter van den Hoogenband was eying his first after upstaging Michael Phelps Monday.

Lenton out-touched her Australian teammate Jessicah Schipper to win the 100 meters butterfly final 24 hours after helping the host to victory in the women’s 4×100 freestyle final.

Van den Hoogenband has never won a world title but the flying Dutchman could be on course to end his drought after qualifying ahead of Phelps for today’s 200 freestyle final.

Van den Hoogenband won his semi in one minute 46.33 seconds while Phelps, who is chasing an unprecedented eight gold medals in Melbourne, took his in 1:46.75, setting the stage for an epic battle.

The US won two gold medals in the Susie O’Neill Pool yesterday, Brendan Hansen beating his Japanese rival Kosuke Kitajima in the 100 breaststroke and Katie Hoff retaining her 200 individual medley title.

South Africa collected its first gold medal when Roland Schoeman powered to victory in the 50 butterfly final but it was the stunning performance of Lenton that stole the show.

Lenton fought off a determined challenge from Schipper to win in 57.15 and stay on course for a record seven golds.

Schipper had to settle for silver after beating Lenton in Montreal two years ago, while American Natalie Coughlin took bronze.

Hansen came out on top in his ongoing private battle with Kitajima after the pair flashed down the last lap stroke for stroke, the American getting his hands on the wall first to win in 59.80 seconds.

Kitajima also went under a minute to take the silver medal and Aussie Brenton Rickard was third. “That was definitely a battle,” Hansen said. “I take my hat off to him, he’s a great competitor.”

The sometimes bitter rivalry between Hansen and Kitajima has dominated men’s breaststroke over the past five years and looks set to continue through to next year’s Beijing Olympics.

“Hansen is a very young strong swimmer and I respect him,” Kitajima said.

Hoff looked to be on her way to breaking China’s Wu Yanyan’s 10-year-old world record when she finished the breaststroke leg and turned for home 0.78 under the mark.

But the 17-year-old faded over the last 10 of the freestyle and had to settle for the fourth fastest time in history (2:10.13).

Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry, the Olympic 200 backstroke champion, finished second and Aussie Stephanie Rice third.