Swm: Aussies wins silver as Phelps completes his magical week

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2008
Swm: Aussies wins silver as Phelps completes his magical week

Australia has claimed the silver medal as American swim superstar MICHAEL PHELPS seized
his record eighth Beijing Games gold in the 4x100m relay.

AUSTRALIA (3minutes 30.04seconds) pushed the USA (3:29.34) all the way with both teams
going under the old world record and the AMERICANS hacking 1.35s off it.

PHELPS became the first person to win eight gold medals at a single Olympics, passing
fellow American MARK SPITZ who won seven in 1972.

The Australian team of HAYDEN STOECKEL, BRENTON RICKARD, ANDREW LAUTERSTEIN and EAMON
SULLIVAN all produced inspired swims but just weren't able to catch the Americans in the
final race of the Olympic swimming competition.

PHELPS proved the difference with his brilliant butterfly leg opening up enough of
a gap for JASON LEZAK to keep SULLIVAN at bay in the freestyle.

The USA have never been defeated in the men's medley relay since it became an Olympic
event in 1960.

Australia are the only other nation to have won the title at the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games.

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KEYWORD: OLY08 SWM M4X100M (BEIJING)

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