HACKETT CRACKS IT
Hackett: impressive performance
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Grant Hackett was victor and villain of the Australian party in the 1,500
metres freestyle today when he prevented team-mate Kieren Perkins from
becoming the first male swimmer to win the same title at three Games.
Hackett won in 14min 48.33sec, with Perkins, world record holder and
winner of the titles in 1992 and 1996, second in 14:53.59sec, almost three
seconds faster than the time in which he won four years ago.
The stroke-for-stroke battle for the bronze went to Chris Thompson, of
the US, by an excrutiating 0.07sec over Alexei Filipets, of Russia, in
14:56.81sec. It was the fastest field in history and the first time that
four men had dipped below 15 minutes in the same race.
Hackett had the gold medal round his neck in the first 200 metres as he
put a critical bodylength between himself and Perkins, who in turn put that
distance between himself and the rest of the field. And so the race went
on, Hackett setting the pace, Perkins following, the fight for the bronze
medal far closer.
Until yesterday, Australia and the United States had each won six
Olympic titles over 1,500 metres since 1924. The crown has now passed to
Australia, with seven gold medals.
CRAIG LORD
Sunday Times
