Records are tumbling and Ian Thorpe has become a national hero. Our glory did not last long. Lenny Krayzelburg's performance in the 100 backstroke and Meaghan Quann's grasp for gold in the 100 breaststroke were timely reminders of the strength of the American teams. But the competitive spirit has not been confined to the pool. We can believe the games are all about sportsmanship, clean competition and good will - but at the end of the day competition is just that.
Nobody likes to lose.
Winners are grinners and for these elite athletes there is a lot at stake. But big dollars are riding on these performances and never before has Australia become so commercialised for one event so quickly. Our Sydney skyline is adorned with murals that hang from the dizzying heights of the skyscrapers and feature the images of our athletes. It's visually magnificent. The computerised images are much more exciting than the products they're trying to promote - life insurance, investment portfolios and banking.