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Phelps makes a splash

INDIANAPOLIS APRIL 7. America's Michael Phelps did everything his coaches could have hoped for against Australia.

He broke his own world record in the 400 metres individual medley, nearly broke two others and led the United States to a 196-74 victory on Sunday in a rare dual meet against one of the nation's biggest swimming rivals.

It wasn't enough to satisfy Phelps, the promising 17-year-old swimmer from Baltimore.

``A couple of things could have gone better,'' he said. ``But I can't complain.''

Phelps' performance was so remarkable that even the Aussies were raving about it.

Grant Hackett, the world-record holder and defending Olympic champ in the 1,500m freestyle, won the event again on Sunday — for the 30th consecutive time. He also won the 200m freestyle.

And Hackett, whose personal rival is fellow Australian and the world's best swimmer — Ian Thorpe, was impressed with what he saw.

``He's (Phelp's) great to watch and he's an awesome competitor,'' Hackett said. ``I'd like to race against a competitor like that.''

Organisers had hoped Phelps and Thorpe might go head-to-head in the 400m freestyle on Sunday, but Thorpe pulled out last week because of a meningitis-type virus that was first discovered in February.

Phelps made the sell out crowd forget about Thorpe with a Mark Spitz-like effort.

``To go three or four high-level swims in three hours is tough,'' said Jack Bowman, Phelps' club coach. ``That makes Michael's effort all the more extraordinary.''

Phelps was dominant from the start. He finished in 4 minutes, 10.73 seconds, shattering his previous world record of 4:11.09 in the IM. He went 51.84 in his next race, the 100 butterfly, breaking his previous American record of 51.88 and coming within three-hundreths of Australian Michael Klim's world record.

But Phelps' best race might have been the 200 butterfly, where he made up seven-tenths of a second in the final 50 meters to beat teammate Tom Malchow.

Phelps also helped the Americans win the 400 medley relay, falling just short of another world record.

Phelps earned $25,000 for the world record but thought he could have achieved more.

``I wanted to be the first man to break two world records in one day,'' Phelps said.

Hackett was the Australian team's only double-winner, taking titles in the 1,500 and 200 freestyles.

The Americans had three double winners — Kaitlin Sandeno in the 400 IM and 200 butterfly, Amanda Beard in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and Ed Moses in the 100 and 200 breaststroke — to go along with Phelps.

The United States won 21 of 26 events, swept the top three spots in six events and finished 1-2 in four others.

Olympian Jenny Thompson set the tone in the day's first event, the 400 free relay when she rallied from more than a second down to pull away for the win on the anchor leg.

``I didn't want to let down my team or my country,'' Thompson said.

The Americans took the cue as the 400 free relay team won by more than four seconds against the nation that handed them their only Olympic loss in the event three years ago in Sydney.

It was a day filled with consternation for the Australians.

The most frustrating part came when Libby Lenton set an Australian record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.92, but was disqualified because of a false start. Lenton was allowed to keep the national record.

``I'm really disappointed because I thought I had a great start,'' she said. ``To know I can match up with the Americans has given me a lot of confidence.''

Few could match Phelps, though.

He led from start-to-finish in each of his first two races and demonstrated he could come back by overtaking Malchow in the final 25 metres, too. Then he swam a strong enough butterfly leg to give the Americans another shot at a world record on the day's final event to complete a good day.

``I gave it my all,'' Phelps said. ``Going into this meet, it was a test, and I think I passed.'' — AP

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