Ian Thorpe claimed his second world record in as many nights at the Australian Olympic swimming trials in Sydney yesterday, with the prospect of more in the offing. The 17-year-old lowered his own record in a semi-final of the 200 metres freestyle to claim his ninth world standard since breaking into big-time swimming at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships in Fukuoka.

Donning his full-length bodysuit, Thorpe shaved 0.31 seconds off his nine-month record with a new time of one minute 45.69 seconds. He had held the previous mark of 1:46.00 at the Pan Pacific Championships in Sydney on August 24th last year.

On Saturday's opening night of the trials, Thorpe smashed his 400 metres freestyle world record by 0.50 seconds to clock 3:41.33.

Underlining Thorpe's superiority, previous world record holder Grant Hackett finished second (1:47.26), with reigning world champion Michael Klim the third fastest in the other 200 metres semi-final in 1:48.38.

With all three racing for Olympic team places in tonight's final, another world record is a distinct possibility.

Thorpe's rise to the top of middle-distance freestyle, where he holds nine world records, has been astonishing. Dual Olympic champion Kieren Perkins, who is 10 years older, didn't set the first of his 11 world marks until he was 18.

Thorpe's coach Doug Frost believes the Sydney teenager will be near unbeatable in the 400 metres at the Olympics.

"I think Ian's probably the benchmark at this point. I know he's capable of going faster. This is probably not the end of it," he said.