Ian Thorpe set his second world record in 24 hours when he recaptured the 200 metres freestyle mark at the Australian Swimming Championships today. Thorpe set his 13th world record of the last 2-1/2 years when he stopped the clock at one minute 44.69 seconds to slice two-thirds of a second off the previous world record of 1:45.35 set by Dutchman Pieter Van Den Hoogenband at the 2000 Sydney Olympics last September.
Thorpe, 18, broke the 800 metres freestyle world record on today less than 20 minutes after contesting the 200m semifinals. ''I just wanted to do a personal best so of course i'm thrilled to break the world record,'' Thorpe said.
''I just took it easy after last night and tried to rest as much as possible and convince myself I could swim well tonight.”
''People are saying I'm a distance swimmer after last night but I like to think I can sprint as well.'' Thorpe won three gold medals at last year's Olympics but had to settle for silver in the 200 metres after Van Den Hoogenband broke the Australian's world record in the semifinals then equalled the new mark in the final to win the gold.
Bureau Report