Hoogenband is king of the pool

SYDNEY, SEPT. 20. Pieter van den Hoogenband toppled Alexander Popov as the Olympic 100 metres freestyle champion today, ending the Russian's eight-year reign.

Australia's Michael Klim took the early initiative to lead at the turn but it was tight all the way until Hoogenband eased slightly clear some 15 metres from the finish to win in 48.30 seconds.

Popov tried in vain to catch him and had to settle for the silver in 48.69, with American Gary hall, who finished second to Popov at the Atlanta Olympics, taking the bronze in 48.73. Klim was just 0.01 seconds behind in fourth place.

Van den Hoogenband, who broke Australian Ian Thorpe's 200 metres freestyle world record on Sunday and equalled it in winning the title on Monday, obliterated the 100 m freestyle record with a time of 47.84 in Tuesday's semifinals.

- Reuters

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