Gr8est dream sinks

Mark Spitz’s 32-year-old record is safe for another four years. American swimming sensation Michael Phelps, seeking to break Spitz&#146...

Mark Spitz’s 32-year-old record is safe for another four years. American swimming sensation Michael Phelps, seeking to break Spitz’s record of seven golds in one Olympics, can now only equal his compatriot at best after the US 4×100 freestyle relay team were beaten by South Africa in a stunning upset.

Phelps had made a perfect start to his ambitious campaign when he won the 400 individual medley on Saturday but his hopes of winning eight were dashed as early as the second day.

And his bid to equal Spitz also seems in danger after he could only qualify third for Monday’s 200 freestyle final behind Dutch defending champion Pieter van den Hoogenband and Australian world record holder Ian Thorpe. It was the worst showing ever for the Americans, who had never lost an Olympic 400 free relay until they were upset by the Australians at the 2000 Sydney Games, with both teams breaking the previous world record.

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The Aussie mark of 3:13.67 was shattered by the South African team of Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling.

The Americans were doomed by Ian Crocker’s dismal start. He went out in 50.05 — the worst 100 of any swimmer — and left his teammates with a margin they could not make up. Phelps went second and got the Americans up to sixth with a time of 48.74.