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August 19, 2004 8:56 pm

U.S. swimmers race to more gold

By Mike Dodd

USA TODAY

ATHENS, Greece - Aaron Peirsol took less than 1 minute, 55 seconds to swim the gold medal race in the 200-meter backstroke Thursday night. The waves didn't settle for three more hours.

In yet another wild day in the Athens Olympics pool - one that saw the USA win five medals, including three golds - Peirsol won the 200 backstroke, lost it on a disqualification ruling, had it reinstated on appeal and finally upheld over the protests of two other countries.

"This has turned into a hell of a drama,'' said the outspoken Californian, who had criticized judges for a no-call that hurt a teammate earlier in the week. "It's just too weird.''

Weird, but ultimately the best night of the Olympics for American swimmers, who set three Olympic records in the gold haul. Michael Phelps won his sixth medal and fourth gold of the Games, breezing to victory in the 200-meter individual medley. Three-time Olympian Amanda Beard won her first gold in an individual event, capturing the 200 breaststroke. And Peirsol walked away from the fray with his second gold medal around his neck. Natalie Coughlin won the bronze in the women's 100 freestyle for her fourth medal of the Games, and Ryan Lochte finished second to Phelps in the 200 IM. The five-medal night, which matched Saturday's opening-night total, gives the USA 21 medals in the meet entering the final two days.

"The U.S. is on a roll tonight,'' Phelps said.

The party almost was doused after a pool deck judge disqualified Peirsol for a "non-continuous turn'' at the 150-meter mark of his race.

However, officials from the international swimming federation FINA reinstated the medal because the judge's ruling had inadequate "detail'' and was "not in the working language of FINA.''

FINA officials were not available for comment Thursday, saying they'd make an official announcement Friday. The judge wasn't identified.

"I really wasn't too worried about it,'' Peirsol said, of the 20 minutes he was without a medal.

"Might have been the shortest Olympic championship in history,'' said Markus Rogan of Austria, who finished second and was listed as the winner when the DQ was initially posted. "I don't know if it ever reached my heart.''

Austria and Great Britain, which would have won bronze if the disqualification had been upheld, filed protests after Peirsol was reinstated as the winner. The FINA Jury of Appeal rejected their appeals late Thursday, saying, "The report of the referee did not show any violation'' by Peirsol.

The rule is a very technical point relating to a swimmer's arm and leg movements as he turns onto his stomach coming to the wall. Peirsol said the alleged infraction would have actually slowed him down.

"We did keep looking for 'Just Kidding' to come up on the scoreboard, and it never did come up,'' U.S. men's coach Eddie Reese said. "We looked at the tape. To call Aaron on that, you would have had to disqualify the other seven guys in the backstroke for the same thing.''

Peirsol had stirred a controversy on Sunday when he said the judges should have disqualified Japan's Kosuke Kitajima for an illegal kick in the 100 breaststroke final. His best friend and University of Texas teammate, Brendan Hansen, finished second to Kitajima. Asked if he thought that was a factor, he replied, "It's not my place to say anything. I think it was just a mistake.''

Rogan, also a longtime friend, was a little less diplomatic. "I believe politics are everywhere,'' he said. "I believe there might have been something about Aaron being very outspoken about his friend Brendan.''

Beard started Thursday's gold parade relatively routinely, storming from behind in the final 50 meters to win the 200 breaststroke for her sixth Olympic medal, edging Aussie rival Leisel Jones in 2:23.37.

Phelps was never challenged in the IM (winning in 1:57.14), nor was Peirsol, until he got out of the pool.

(Contributing: Vicki Michaelis.)

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