Thorpe winns 400m freestyle

Ian Thorpe showed Michael Phelps that anything the American can do, he can do too, as he successfully defended his Olympic 400metres freestyle crown, taking gold in a time of three minutes and 43.10 seconds.

This time there was no repeat of the embarrassing false start which almost cost the 21-year-old Australian the chance to defend his title.

Thorpe was disqualified at the Australian trials when he tumbled off the blocks before the gun had sounded and was only allowed to swim the event in Athens after his team-mate Craig Stevens surrendered his spot.

Dressed in his familiar all-black swimsuit and yellow cap, Thorpe was in tears after only just holding off Aussie team-mate Grant Hackett who won silver with a time of 3:43.36.

The bronze went to American Klete Keller in 3:44.11 – an Americas record.