Day 3: 1997 Pan Pacific Championships

FUKUOKA, Japan – Jenny Thompson brought to 17 the number of gold medals she’s won in Pan Pacific competition by winning 2 more Tuesday. She won the 100m butterfly, then anchored the victorious women’s 400m freestyle relay for the U.S. Thompson also won twice Monday, and stands two victories short of her 1993 Pan Pacific record of 6 golds. Her medals were among 5 golds by Americans, bringing the U.S. total for 3 days to 13. Australia is second with 9. American Neil Walker also won twice, winning the 100m butterfly in a time of 52.76 (breaking Pablo Morales’ 11-year old American Record in the process), and anchoring the victorious men’s 400m freestyle relay. Lenny Krayzelburg captured the fifth U.S. gold, in the 200m backstroke (lowering his own American record to 1:57.87). For a while, it looked like Thompson might not win the 100m butterfly. But she came from behind to touch out Ayari Aoyama of Japan. Thompson finished in 59.00 and Aoyama in 59.35. Less than an hour later, Thompson led the U.S. relay team to gold in a time of 3:43.77.

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