ATHENS, Aug 16: Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe beat arch-rival Michael Phelps in the men's 200-metre freestyle on Monday as the United States pursued China, Australia and Japan in the medals table on day three of the Olympic Games.
In a nail-biting race between the four fastest swimmers in history, world record holder Thorpe took the gold, just ahead of Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogen band. Phelps, a 19-year-old American who arrived in Athens with a big build-up, was a distant third.
The delighted Australian whipped off his rubber cap and punched the air three times in triumph, flashing a smile. Van den Hoogenband, who won gold four years ago, led through 150 metres but Thorpe caught him in a pulsating finish.
The bronze finish in Thorpe's wake ended Phelps' hopes of equalling Mark Spitz's 1972 record of seven gold medals. The U.S. Olympic team has captured three golds so far - Phelps in the 400 metres individual medley on day one and, on Monday, Natalie Coughlin in the women's 100 backstroke and Aaron Peirsol in the men's.
In the overall medals table, the sports superpower trailed leader China as well as Australia and Japan. At about the same point in the 2000 Games in Sydney, the United States led the table with six golds.
Luo Xuejuan won China's eighth gold medal on Monday in the women's 100 metres breaststroke. A seemingly interminable doping scandal that has left Greek hopes of sporting glory twisting in the wind since Thursday took a new turn as a state prosecutor ordered an investigation of the country's two top athletes Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou.
The sprinters have been in hospital since a motorcycle crash after their no-show for a drugs test on the eve of the Games. It has jeopardised Greece's reputation and medal hopes.
The hospital was ringed by reporters and television cameras awaiting their expected release from medical care on Tuesday. Getting thrown out of the host country's Olympics would be the ultimate disgrace but their lawyer said it would not happen.
"On Wednesday, even on crutches, Kenteris and Thanou will be in front of the (International Olympic Committee disciplinary) panel. They will fight their fight and prove they're clean," Michalis Dimitrakopoulos said.
The hearing has already been postponed twice since Friday and the Greek Olympic committee has suspended the two athletes. A second unresolved challenge to the rules of the Games rumbled on on Monday in judo, as that sport's governing body stepped back from any immediate sanctions against Iran.
Iranian world champion Arash Miresmaeili refused to compete against Israel's Ehud Vaks at the weekend, in a political move Tehran unabashedly ascribed to its support for the Palestinians.
International Judo Federation (IJF) spokesman Michel Brousse said an emergency executive meeting, after an inconclusive sitting on Sunday, was postponed because some members were unable to attend.
Israel had urged officials to penalise Iran, warning that no nation at the Olympics could be allowed to pick and choose. Athens Games organisers, stung by television pictures of near-empty stadiums, were praying seasonal strong winds would die down and that ticket sales would pick up.
Amid pointed reminders the Sydney Games four years ago were played at 95-percent capacity, Athens organising committee spokesman Michael Zacharatos denied reports that Greeks would be offered free tickets to fill embarrassing gaps. -Reuters
MEDALS TABLE
ATHENS, Aug 16: Medals table on Monday:
G S B T
China 9 4 1 14
Australia 6 2 4 12
Japan 4 1 1 6
United States 3 4 5 12
France 2 2 3 7
Italy 2 2 1 5
Turkey 2 0 1 3
Ukraine 2 0 1 3
Russia 1 4 2 7
Germany 1 1 1 3
Hungary 1 1 1 3
South Korea 1 0 2 3
Thailand 1 0 2 3
South Africa 1 0 0 1
Netherlands 0 2 3 5
Poland 0 2 0 2
North Korea 0 2 0 2
Slovakia 0 1 1 2
Austria 0 1 0 1
Spain 0 1 0 1
Britain 0 1 0 1
Georgia 0 1 0 1
Indonesia 0 1 0 1
Portugal 0 1 0 1
Serbia & Montenegro 0 1 0 1
Zimbabwe 0 1 0 1
Cuba 0 0 3 3
Belgium 0 0 2 2
Bulgaria 0 0 2 2
Argentina 0 0 1 1
Brazil 0 0 1 1
Colombia 0 0 1 1
Czech Republic 0 0 1 1
Greece 0 0 1 1
Mongolia 0 0 1 1. -Reuters