Twists and turns end with gold

ATHENS 2004/SWIMMING: Aaron Peirsol was awarded gold in the 200 metres backstroke at the Athens Olympics yesterday after winning an appeal against his disqualification and then surviving a protest by the British and Austrian teams.

The American led from the start to easily win the final five metres ahead of Austrian Markus Rogan only to be told he had been disqualified for an illegal turn on the last lap. The United States team filed a protest against the decision and the disqualification was immediately overturned.

However, the Austrians and British protested that the disqualification should stand but their appeal was rejected by the sport's governing body, FINA.

"The Jury of Appeal heard the referee and the FINA Technical Swimming Commission after which the Jury of Appeal unanimously decided to reject the protest," a FINA statement read.

"The report of the referee did not show any violation of the FINA swimming rules by the swimmer Mr Aaron Peirsol."

Peirsol said he was relieved that justice had been served.

"I wasn't too worried," he said. "I am sad for those who thought they were on the podium and were thrown out of it after my race was made valid."

Earlier in the week, Peirsol was at the centre of another row when he accused Japan's Kosuke Kitajima of using an illegal dolphin kick when he beat American Brendan Hansen in the 100m breaststroke final.

There was no official protest by the Americans but Kitajima was angered and said he used the accusation as motivation when he won the 200m as well.

Rogan, who would have won gold if the disqualification had stood, said he thought politics might have played a part in the initial disqualification but he had no beef about the decision to overturn it.

"I am happy with my silver medal," he said. "Aaron is a very honest person, I am sure he swam fairly and it is just the way it should be. He is one of my best friends and no medal is as beautiful as a friendship."

Peirsol (21), a hot favourite for the final after his win in the 100m last Sunday, charged through the first 50 metres at world-record pace and pulled away to clock 1:54.95, just a fraction outside his world record of 1:54.74.

Rogan was third after 150 metres but finished strongly to get second in 1:57.35, just ahead of Romania's Razvan Florea, who touched in 1:57.56.

Peirsol finished second behind his compatriot Lenny Krayzelburg in the 200m at Sydney four years ago but has won virtually everything at breaststroke since.

He won his first world title in 2001 then defended it last year before completing his collection with the Olympic gold.

"The 200 is my baby," he said. "That medal means the world to me. Now I feel fulfilled."

Meanwhile, Michael Phelps won his fourth gold of the games with victory in the 200m individual medley.

The American teenager, who stormed to victory in the 200 individual medley to collect his sixth medal of the Games, said he was unable to come down from the competitive rush at nights.

"The Olympics are so emotionally draining," said Phelps after clocking a Games record 1:57.14.

"I guess I am having a tough time getting to sleep every night but that's all part of the fun. The adrenalin level is going so high I can't sleep but I have to deal with that."

He insisted, however, fatigue had not been a major factor so far.

"I think I'm recovering pretty well," said the 19-year-old, who swam in the 100m butterfly semi-finals 30 minutes after winning the medley."

Though he cannot now reach his original target of eight golds, Phelps could still end up with a record haul of eight medals in Athens.

Elsewhere, Australian Jodie Henry held Inge de Bruijn in the 100m freestyle final. Both set Olympic records.