Klim Wins Two at Paris World Cup

By Phillip Whitten

PARIS, Jan. 27. AUSTRALIA'S Michael Klim won two events as the Aussie men took five of the nine men's events contested on the first day of the two-day FINA World Cup X meet in Paris, France. This is the final stop on the 10-venue FINA World Cup tour for 2000-2001.

MEN'S EVENTS
Klim defeated his trining partner, short course WR-holder Alex Popov, of Russia, in the 100m free, clocking 47.93 to the Russian's 48.22. Later he came back to post an easy victory in the 50m butterfly, touching in 23.36, with teammate Adam Pine at 23.99 and former butterfly king, Denis Pankratov, of Russia, a well-beaten third in 24.07.

American men notched two victories this evening in the City of Lights. Veteran Chad Carvin had no trouble in winning the 400m freestyle, his 3:43.44 more than three-and-a-half seconds faster than his nearest challenger.

Olympic champion Tom Malchow led a one-two US sweep of the 200 fly, as he posted a 1:53.32. Fifteen year-old Michael Phelps was a distant second at 1:56.70.

Gordan Kozulj led a one-two Croatian sweep of the 100m back, a finish that is becoming repetitive on the World Cup circuit. The University of California grad clocked 52.81 while teammate Ante Maskovic finished in 53.33.

Australia's Jim Piper withstood a charge from France's Stephan Perrot to take the 200m breast in a fast 2:08.37 to the Frenchman's 2:08.65.

WOMEN'S EVENTS
In women's events, hometown girl Solenne Figues got the crowd's juices flowing with an impressive three-second win in the 200m free. Her 1:57.10 was well ahead of Costa Rica's Claudia Poll's 2:00.09.

The USA's B.J. Bedford notched an easy win in the 50m backstroke, clocking a solid 27.94.

Other outstanding wins were turned in by China's Qi Hui in the 100m breast (1:06.59); Sweden's Johanna Sjoberg in the 100m fly (58.61); and Japan's Tomoko Hagiwara in the 200m IM (2:11.94).

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