You can't plan everything, mate. But when I think about it, a silver medal ain't bad. Swimming alone in front of his qualifying heat in the 400 free, world recordholder Thorpe eased his way into the finals with an Olympic record time of 3 minutes, 44.65. American Jenny Thompson also broke an Olympic mark with a 57.66 in the 100 butterfly, but lost that distinction minutes later when Dutch rival and world recordholder Inge de Bruijn topped it with a 57.60. Thorpe's first chance for Olympic gold occurred at 4 a.m. this morning Eastern time.
Tomorrow here is today there, and today there is tomorrow here.
Exclusive proprietors of the 4 x 100 freestyle relay for decades, the U.S, men are vulnerable to Australia's best swim team in 46 years. That would be your time. The much-anticipated faceoff will occur at 7 tonight in Sydney, and cap an exhausting full schedule of events on the first day, including the first day of gymnastics competition for both men and women. But don't fret. While you slept, NBC, which broadcast the Opening Ceremony to you last night on tape delay, will have the day packaged neatly and nicely for you again tonight, as it did last night's moving and culturally enriched opener.