Hoogie Sets the Standard with 1:46.00 in the 200 Free, Leads Thorpe and Phelps into the “Race of the Century" Tomorrow Night. -- August 15, 2004
By Stephen J. Thomas
ATHENS, Greece August 15. THE game of strategy is on in earnest with Olympic champion Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband making the latest move by winning the first semifinal of the 200 free in the fastest time of 1:46.00 from USA’s Klete Keller (1:47.28) and a sterling performance from Englishman Simon Burnett who set a national record (1:47.72).
World record-holder Ian Thorpe took the second semifinal, leading at every turn to touch in 1:46.65. Michael Phelps was prepared to build his race, turning at the 100m in fourth place, and lifting to get to the wall in 1:47.08. Distance king Grant Hackett was way back early on, but finished strongly to touch in 1:47.61.
The medals will come from these five guys. But in what order?
The bookmakers will be busy Down Under.
Men 200m Freestyle Semifinal
Record Splits Name NOC Location Date
WR 1:44.06 24.81 51.45 1:18.26 THORPE Ian AUS Fukuoka (JPN) 25 JUL 2001
OR 1:45.35 24.51 51.12 1:18.31 V.D. HOOGENBAND Pieter NED Sydney (AUS) 17 SEP 2000
=OR 1:45.35 24.44 50.85 1:18.21 V.D. HOOGENBAND Pieter NED Sydney (AUS) 18 SEP 2000
Event No: 8
Rank Heat Lane Name NOC R.T. 50m 100m 150m Time Time
Behind
1 1 4 van den HOOGENBAND Pieter NED 0.82 25.09 51.75
26.66 1:18.88
27.13 1:46.00
27.12
2 2 4 THORPE Ian AUS 0.86 25.02 52.32
27.30 1:19.62
27.30 1:46.65
27.03 0.65
3 2 3 PHELPS Michael USA 0.76 25.24 52.50
27.26 1:20.01
27.51 1:47.08
27.07 1.08
4 1 5 KELLER Klete USA 0.84 25.77 52.75
26.98 1:19.93
27.18 1:47.28
27.35 1.28
5 2 6 HACKETT Grant AUS 0.74 25.26 52.52
27.26 1:20.38
27.86 1:47.61
27.23 1.61
6 1 3 BURNETT Simon GBR 0.75 26.23 53.41
27.18 1:20.60
27.19 1:47.72
27.12 1.72
7 2 5 BREMBILLA Emiliano ITA 0.84 25.50 52.47
26.97 1:19.98
27.51 1:47.93
27.95 1.93
8 2 2 SAY Rick CAN 0.74 25.75 52.82
27.07 1:20.73
27.91 1:48.16
27.43 2.16
9 1 6 SVOBODA Kvetoslav CZE 0.76 25.76 53.17
27.41 1:21.04
27.87 1:49.27
28.23 3.27
10 1 7 OKUMURA Yoshihiro JPN 0.73 26.22 53.95
27.73 1:21.91
27.96 1:49.49
27.58 3.49
11 2 7 BOVELL George TRI 0.84 25.14 52.49
27.35 1:20.70
28.21 1:49.59
28.89 3.59
12 1 1 ZISIMOS Andreas GRE 0.82 25.96 53.67
27.71 1:21.91
28.24 1:49.76
27.85 3.76
13 2 1 HAYDEN Brent CAN 0.79 25.24 53.00
27.76 1:21.39
28.39 1:50.00
28.61 4.00
14 1 2 MEICHTRY Dominik SUI 0.71 26.12 53.70
27.58 1:21.77
28.07 1:50.02
28.25 4.02
15 1 8 WILDEBOER Olaf ESP 0.77 25.77 53.51
27.74 1:21.84
28.33 1:50.61
28.77 4.61
16 2 8 KAPRALOV Andrey RUS 0.80 25.07 53.14
28.07 1:22.20
29.06 1:51.35
29.15 5.35
