Beijing Olympic Games

Sprint specialists set sights on 100 free

By ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer

BEIJING (AP)—It has a loaded field, high-tech suits—and no Michael Phelps.

The 100-meter freestyle, swimming’s signature race, is shaping up as one of the most competitive of the Olympics.

Australian speedster Eamon Sullivan staked his claim as the man to beat by setting a new world record of 47.24 seconds in the 400 free relay leadoff leg Monday. He also led Tuesday’s qualifying heats, clocking 47.80 for the classic two-lap race.

Swedish sprinter Stefan Nystrand qualified second in 47.83, and world championship silver medalist Brent Hayden touched third in 47.84.

“I think it’s going to take about what the world record is now to get onto the podium,” Hayden said.

The 16 qualifiers for Wednesday’s semifinal were separated by three-fourths of a second. The final is scheduled for Thursday.

Alain Bernard, the hulking Frenchman who held the previous world record— and the man tapped as Sullivan’s top challenger—qualified fourth.

“The main thing was to qualify among the first 16,” Bernard said. “It doesn’t matter whether you are first, second, fourth or eighth. I’m fourth, knowing that at the end I slowed down a bit, so everything is cool.”

The fifth qualifier was Pieter van den Hoogenband, who is attempting to become the first swimmer to win the event at three consecutive Olympics.

Van den Hoogenband hasn’t registered a major victory since his gold in Athens four years ago, but he’ll be motivated to close his career in style. The Dutchman held the world record of 47.84 for eight years before Bernard bettered it twice in one day at the European Championships in March.

No wonder Phelps is sitting this one out—his best 100 free time was 47.92 last month.

Speedo’s space-age LZR Racer swimsuit, which was developed with the help of NASA, has had its biggest impact on the sprints.

Filippo Magnini of Italy won the past two world championships but has been off form lately, and qualified only 10th. Magnini recently cut off a lucrative contract with Arena to wear the LZR.

Jason Lezak will be motivated after rallying the United States to an emotional comeback victory over Bernard and France in the anchor leg of the 400 free relay, keeping Phelps’ record bid for eight gold medals at one Olympics alive.

“It was definitely difficult because (Monday) was a finals situation,” Lezak said after qualifying 11th. “Today was preliminaries. I didn’t really have the focus I had yesterday. I was just looking to get out of my heat, and I did what I had to do to get by.”

Garrett Weber-Gale, another member of the Americans’ relay squad, was eighth in the heats.

“There’s a lot of fast swimmers. I’ve just got to swim my own race and do what I can do,” Weber-Gale said. “I know I’m capable of doing a lot, and that’s what I plan on doing.”

No American has won this event since Matt Biondi in 1988.

The last Australian to take the 100 title was Michael Wenden way back in 1968.

“I’ve just got to play it down and enjoy the moment and focus on the days ahead,” Sullivan said, referring to his record. “I’m happy with the way things are going.”

The semifinal and final times will be so close, Sullivan added, that “you’ll be able to throw a blanket over it easily.”