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Bennett challenges Janet Evans as Queen of Distance

From Sports Illustrated • SI Images: Photos from the Games • Brian Cazeneuve: Hall past past • Tim Layden: Mo and O can go • Grant Wahl: Put him in coach • Alex Wolff: Maldivian swimmer delivers a most important message • Phil Taylor: Water polo -- Now that's toughness • John Walters: Show some heart • Medal Picks: SI's Predictions More Features • Day at a Glance: Not so fast • Viewers' Guide: What to watch for • CNNSI.com's Michael Lewis: Soccer -- Men still making strides with fans • Wake-up Call: Tracking the day in sports • Quiz: Today's Tester Athletes • 10 Questions: Cathy Freeman • Head Games: Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Ato Bolden • Just Checking In: U.S. sprinter John Capel • Just Checking In: Water polo player Chris Humbert • Athlete Bios: U.S. Rosters Multimedia • Photo Gallery: Getting on track • Photo Gallery: Shots of the Day • Multimedia Central: Photo Galleries, Video and More

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SYDNEY, Sept 22 (AFP) - Brooke Bennett became the third-fastest performer in the history of the women's 800m freestyle here Friday to set herself up as the pretender to Queen of distance Janet Evans.

Bennett broke the 12-year-old Olympic record of fellow American Evans when she clocked 8min 19.67sec in Sydney's International Aquatic Centre to retain the 800m title she won in Atlanta at the age of 16.

Now the 20-year-old from Plant City, Florida has pulled off the golden double of the 400 metres and 800 metres at the Sydney Games and set her sights on Evans' world records.

After lowering Evans' 800m Olympic mark from 8:20.20 Bennett now looks poised to challenge the distance world records set by her idol more than a decade ago, including her world record 8:16.22 in the event.

"She is the Distance Queen of US swimming and at the moment this is my goal," said Bennett, who became just the fifth woman in history to defend an Olympic title Friday.

"I remember watching Janet Evans compete in the 1988 Olympics when I was eight and thinking it would be so great to do that.

"Her times are so fast compared to mine. I just never thought I would be standing here. It's so amazing. I'm so proud of myself."

"I think I have a long way to go before I catch Janet's legacy," she added.

But Bennett believes they are now within her reach.

"I'm two seconds away from a world record in the 400 and 3sec in the 800. Both of them are within my reach and this is going to be my motivation in the years to come."

In the meantime she was thrilled to get a chance to show her stuff in Australia, where swimming fans love distance events.

"I'm so overwhelmed being here," Bennett said. "Two gold medals and an Olympic record. I don't think I've gotten hold of myself yet."

Bennett never looked in any real danger of losing her 800m freestyle crown, leading the final from start to finish to retain her title.

Overcome with relief she shook her head and hugged her team-mate Kaitlin Sandeno who took the bronze (8:24.29) behind the Ukraine's Yana Klochkova.

Klochkova, who set a world record in the 400m individual medley then added the 200m IM gold to her cache earlier this week, finished second in 8:22.66.

"I think Brooke has established herself as a great swimming," said 17-year-old Sandeno.

Bennett joins just four women in history who successfully defended their swimming titles - Dawn Fraser in the 100m freestyle (1956, 1960, 1964), America's Martha Norelius in the 400m freestyle (1924, 1928), Evans in the 800m freestyle (1988, 1992) and Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi in the 200m backstroke.

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