Thorpe is king of the pool -- Australian newspapers
( 2001-07-26 10:34 ) (7 )

Ian Thorpe wants critics to wait until his career is over before deciding his place among swimming's greats, but Australia's newspapers have made their decision, calling him the king of the pool on Thursday.

The Australian teenager smashed his own world record to win the 200 metres freestyle final on Wednesday, his fourth title in as many days at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Thorpe also broke his world records to win the 400 and 800 metres titles and he anchored Australia to victory in the 4x100 freestyle relay.

The Age newspaper ran a back-page headline "King of the pool" with a large photograph of Thorpe's conqueror in the 200 at last year's Sydney Olympics, Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband, holding the Australian's arm aloft after Thorpe's win on Wednesday.

"It was a declaration from van den Hoogenband that Thorpe is the true champion," The Age said.

ABSOLUTE LEGEND

The Herald Sun's back-page headline said: "Three world records from 200 to 800m. That makes it official -- Thorpey's an absolute LEGEND."

"He knew this was the event that had slipped away from him in Sydney and he wanted to show van den Hoogenband his best," the newspaper said.

Thorpe won the 400 metres freestyle and two relay gold medals as a 17-year-old at the Sydney Games.

The Australian newspaper said van den Hoogenband was one of the greatest swimmers of his generation, but Thorpe had turned him into cannon fodder.

In a front-page article featuring a grinning Thorpe with another gold medal around his neck, The Australian said Thorpe was on target for an unprecedented six gold medals at the championships.

"The modest Thorpe has never publicly admitted he was suffering from a viral infection for several days leading into the 200m final in Sydney," the newspaper said.

"Last night the real Thorpe 200m form came out."