Thorpe wins third gold at Pan Pacs
Associated Press, Yokohama, Japan
Ian Thorpe claimed his third gold medal of the Pan Pacific swimming championships, winning the men's 200 freestyle Monday as the Australians edged atop the gold-medal standings in Yokohama.
Thorpe, who holds world records over the 200-, 400- and 800- meter freestyle, gave Australia its sixth gold medal but the Americans drew level when world record-holder Natalie Coughlin eclipsed the competition in the women's 100 backstroke in the second final of the night.
Coughlin, who set the world record at the US trials in Florida earlier this month, swam the second sub-1 minute women's 100 backstroke in history, clocking 59.72 seconds to finish two bodylengths clear of Australia's Diana Caylub.
It was her second gold medal, coming after her win Sunday in the 100 butterfly.
Thorpe, who won the 400 freestyle and anchored the winning 4x100 freestyle relay team Saturday, clocked 4 minutes, 44.75 seconds to set a meet record in the 200.
He set the world record in the 200 (1:44.06) at last year's world championships in Fukuoka with a time of 1:44.06 and just missed setting a new mark here. Fellow Australian Grant Hackett was second in 1:45.84 while American Nate Dusing took the bronze in 1:48.11.
"I was happy with the time and happy with the result," said Thorpe. "I'm pretty tired at the moment to be honest - I'm doing well so far and hope it continues for the rest of the meet."
As usual, the capacity crowd erupted when Thorpe made his way across the pool deck. The 19-year-old Aussie is a crowd favorite in Japan.
Thorpe won six golds at the 2001 world championships in Fukuoka and a record six gold medals at last month's Manchester Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.
Thorpe, who is rumored to be thinking about switching coaches after the Pan Pacs, said coming into this event that it would be difficult to break a world record given his tough schedule this summer. After the Manchester Commonwealth Games in England earlier this month, the Australians flew back home before coming to Japan.
Finals were continuing Monday on the third day of the six-day meet.