Aussies win 4x200 freestyle relay

The Australian 4x200 metre freestyle team led by home sensation Ian Thorpe won the gold medal with a world record time of 7.07.05 secs, shaving more than a second of the previous mark of 7.08.79.

The gold is Thorpe's third of the Games, an Australian record for swimming.

In a superbly tactical race, the Aussies threw in their top guns Thorpe and Michael Klim for the first two legs to combat the United Sates' overall team competency.

The move paid off when Thorpe came in nearly a body length ahead and Klim promptly increased the lead.

The Americans closed in on Todd Pearson and Bill Kirby, who swam the last two legs for the home side, but the Australians had enough headway.

While the action in the front had the crowd bringing the roof at the aquatic centre down, there was drama at the back.

Britain seemed comfortably placed for the bronze, till Dutch sensation Pieter van den Hoogenband entered the pool for the last leg.

A brilliant burst of speed saw him overtake Britain and set off in fierce pursuit of the leaders. There were a few anxious looks in the Australian and US camps. But the lead was too much for the 200 metres world record holder and he and his team had to settle for bronze.

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