¡¡ATHENS, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The swimming program of the 2004 Paralympic Games ended as it began - with a rush of world and Paralympic records on Monday.

    A total of 252 records were broken - 97 of them world records -two more than were broken at both the Sydney 2000 and Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games -where 95 world records were broken at each Games.     

    Each day, cheering crowds filled the swimming pool stands to the delight of the swimmers, whose personal skill and efforts were reinforced by the electric atmosphere.

    In the overall medal tally by number of medals,Britain was clearly in the lead with 52 ahead of China (41), Spain and Canada (40 each) and Australia with 35.

    China had the most gold medals with 14, followed by Britain with 12 and the Ukraine (11).

    Thirty seven teams won 499 medals in 166 events.

    It is worth noting that hosts Greece proved the progress they have made over the years, winning eleven medals (three gold, six silver and two bronze), led by Christos Tabaxis and Charalambos Taiganidis who won three medals apiece.

    Outstanding athletes in the swimming pool came from all over the world. In the women's competition the standout performer was Japan's Mayumi Narita, who in the S4 category won seven individual gold medals (all but one of which was in world record time, and the other was in Paralympic record time) and one relay gold medal and a relay bronze medal.

    Also outstanding was American Erin Popovich performance. She won five individual gold medals in the S7 division and added two relay gold medals to her tally.

    Britain's Jim Anderson swam in the S2 category and won four gold medals from his four starts. Viktor Smyrnov from the Ukraine dominated the S11 competition with four gold medals, a silver and a bronze. Enditem