Olympics: Hoogenband in free-style final

Dutch swimming gold medal hopeful Pieter van den Hoogenband has set a new personal record of 47.68 seconds on his way to the final of the 100m free-style in Beijing on Thursday.


His two main rivals for the title, Eamon Sullivan and Alain Bernard, both set a new world record in their heats.
‘I think gold is a long way off. But I will get out there with a big smile on my face for my last race,’ Van den Hoogenband told the NRC. ‘I am just pleased that I have showed I am still among the world’s best.’
Last week Van den Hoogenband announced he would not compete in the 200m free-style so that he could focus on his ambition to become the first swimmer to win three Olympic 100m free-style golds.
In other Olympic news, cyclist Marianne Vos again failed to live up to expectations, coming 14th in the individual time trial. ‘I did all I could, my legs were good, but I did not measure up to a number of specialists,’ Vos was quoted as saying by news agency ANP.
Vos, at 21 the youngest competitor in the event, is current world road race champion but came sixth in this event at the weekend.

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