Mr Hooker, You Can Be The Best

BACKED by the best coach in the world, Olympic champion Steve Hooker believes he can break Sergey Bubka's world record of 6.14 metres. Alex Parnov, too, is confident Hooker's technique will see him eclipse that mark set by Bubka in Italy in 1994.

High 5

There is a school of thought that says sprinting over 100 metres is the purest form of sport. Given we all have to dash at some stage, here are some past world record-holders that provide inspiration.

Hooker Aims Higher

BACKED by the best coach in the world, Olympic champion Steve Hooker believes he can break Sergey Bubka's world record of 6.14 metres.

$17.8bn: Bhp Goes From Boom To Best

BHP Billiton, the world's largest mining company, has delivered the biggest profit in Australian corporate history - a record $17.8 billion.

No Regrets After Men Fail To Fire

THE Australian team will leave Beijing having failed in its goal to win its biggest haul of gold medals from the pool, with a clutch of world record holders failing to win their pet events and without a men's winner for the first time since the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

Sullivan Half Empty, Glasses Half Full

EAMON SULLIVAN arrived in Beijing as the 50-metre freestyle world record-holder and the second fastest man over two laps.

Gaffe Almost Sinks Trickett

AUSTRALIAN coach Alan Thompson insists it wasn't cockiness but conceded it was "misjudgment" that almost cost world record holder Libby Trickett her place in today's women's 100-metres freestyle final.

The Fab Four

THIS was the gold medal that came from nowhere, the world record that just happened.

Bronze But Selections Haunt Thompson

HEAD coach Alan Thompson yesterday said he made one of the hardest decisions of his career when he dropped two of Australia's strongest 200 metre swimmers from the team that snatched bronze behind the record-breaking Americans.

World Record To His Credit, But Sullivan's Still Aiming High

WHAT do you do if you've just smashed the 100-metre freestyle world record in leading off the Australian relay team at an Olympics Games?

Phelps Sets Record Straight And Moves On

IF BOB BOWMAN is a man of his word, then Michael Phelps has won his last 400 metres individual medley  and he produced the almost perfect way to bid farewell to one of the most gruelling events in the pool.

Stroke Of Genius

Since Stephanie Rice was dragged into the fracas surrounding that night at The Loft, more attention has been paid to the swimmer's Facebook profile and choice of company than her record-breaking achievements in the pool.