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

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday August 12, 2008

Stathi Paxinos

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? The answer is simple for Eamon Sullivan, who did just that yesterday morning. He will go to good friend Michael Klim, who claimed the world record in near identical circumstances in Sydney, for advice on how to ensure that the world record-breaking effort will not be the best swim of his Beijing Games.

Sullivan yesterday posted an incredible 47.24 seconds when he led off for Australia in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay final - a race that will go down as among the most thrilling ever seen at an Olympic pool.

American anchor Jason Lezak swam the fastest-ever relay split of 46.06 to overcome a hefty gap at the last turn and just pass France's Alain Bernard in a world record 3.08.24, slashing four seconds off the benchmark set in the heats the previous night by the American team without its three top sprinters who came in for the final. France and Australia followed in times of 3.08.32 and 3.09.91 - with Italy and Sweden also beating the old mark.

Klim was the lead in the 2000 Olympics but his world record only lasted a couple of days. Dutch champion Pieter van den Hoogenband came out in the semi-finals and set the new standard at 47.84, a time that remained until France's Alain Bernard broke it earlier this year. Klim failed to maintain his form and finished fourth in the final behind van den Hoogenband.

Sullivan said he hoped to talk to Klim before the 100 freestyle heats that start tonight.

"I think he'll be happy and have a few words of wisdom after Sydney," he said. "The main thing for me is not to get too excited about it, and [to] push it to the back of my mind for the moment - and if it's still standing at the end of the meet, then get happy about it."

The 22-year-old said he had woken yesterday morning feeling refreshed and had felt comfortable throughout the swim.

"It was an amazing race and something I won't forget," he said. "It's rare that you are happy in coming third but myself and these three guys are amazed at the times that we have swam."

Meanwhile, Ashley Callus, who collapsed from exhaustion after the race, said he would retire at the end of these Olympics.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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