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By Sportswriter Ma Xiangfei
ATHENS, Aug. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The swimming competition of the Olympic Games
came to a perfect ending Saturday when the United States solidified their lead
by winning the men's 4x100m medley relay final in a world record breaking time
at the Olympic Games.
In the last event of the swimming competition, the United States defended
successfully the men's 4x100m medley relay title in three minutes 30.68, shaving
0.86 seconds off their own previous best set at last year's Barcelona world
championships.
The United States were without Michael Phelps after the five-gold winner relinquished
his butterfly spot to world record holder Ian Crocker when they
bagged the 12th gold medal in the swimming event.
100m and 200m backstroke winner Aaron Peirsol swam within the world record before
100m and 200m breaststroke world record holder Brendan Hansen and Crocker
kept the fast pace.
Jason Lezak held the lead through to wrap up the victory while Germany
finished in a distant second in 3:33.62.
Japan, featuring 100m and 200m breaststroke winner Kosuke Kitajima, took
bronze in 3:35.22.
Sharing the Americans' limelight were the Australia, who also set a new
world mark in the women's 4x100m medley relay Saturday night.
Australia came from behind to win in a new world record time of three
minutes 57.32, bettering by 0.98 the previous world mark setby defending
champions United States in Sydney four years ago.
100m butterfly champion Petria Thomas overtook Jenny Thompson when
Australia grabbed the lead and 100m free winner Jodie Henry held it through.
"I am so happy. It was the last chance to get up and win. The girls did an
awesome swim and my race was pretty good," said Henry,who set a new world record
in the 100m free in the semifinal.
The United States had to settle for the runners-up place in 3:59.12 while
Germany came third in 4:00.72.
But the Americans had one thing to celebrate when the 31-year-old Thompson
became the most decorated swimmer in the Olympic history after she collected a
total of 12 medals from four Olympics including two silvers in Athens.
"That was my last ever Olympic race,"said Thompson. "I am so proud of the
women in my team."
Defending champion Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands retained her 50m
freestyle title to prepare her a best birthday gift when she turns 31 on
Tuesday.
World record holder Bruijn, silver medalist in the 100m free, clinched the
title in 24.58 seconds, 0.45 outside her own world mark set in Sydney.
"There has been so much pressure on me given the other results.Finally, I
get the gold," said Bruijn wearing her famous big smile,also taking two bronzes
in the 100m fly and 4x100m free relay.
"It's really big. It's going to stay on my face for a couple more weeks, I
guess," she said about her smile.
Frenchwoman Malia Metella, fourth place finisher in the 100m free, took
silver in 24.89 while Lisbeth Lenton of Australia was third in 24.91.
Defending champion and world record holder Grant Hackett was pushed hard in
the 1,500m freestyle before he proved he was still the long-distance king by
winning in 14 minutes 43.40 seconds.
Hackett has been unbeaten in the 30-lap race since 1996 and haswon the past
three world championships.
Although more often than not, Hackett laps the entire field, American
teenager Larsen Jensen posed a future threat to him when the 19-year-old
finished second in 14:45.29.
British David Davies, also 19, took bronze in 14:45.95.
Twenty-year-old Yuri Prilukov, who had been following Hackett close at heel
for most of the race, settled for the fourth place in 14:52.48.
"I knew it was going to be so hard. I just wanted it so bad," said the
24-year-old Hackett. "It meant everything to me. I knew Iwas able to do it."
"The next four years are going to be tough, but it's OK. I lovea
challenge,"
Australia was the biggest winner of the day by taking golds anda bronze but
the United States wound up the medals table leader with 12 golds, nine silvers
and seven bronzes from the 32 events in eight days. Enditem | 
