Swimming: Pool pulling power on show

Australia's swimmers yesterday realised how much momentum they have generated when they drew the biggest-yet press gathering of the Games to a conference that focussed on drugs, expectations and the war of words with the United States.

The team carry the weight of the nation's hopes.

Australia expects great returns - there are world record-holders in Ian Thorpe and Susie O'Neill, no one is considering anyone but Keiren Perkins or Grant Hackett winning the 1500m, the bald sprint star Michael Klim is pushing records and there is the experience of the likes of Daniel Kowalski and Hayley Lewis.

They've got custom-made victory songs ready to go.

Yesterday the stars lined up to talk about the hard work they have done and how they were focussed solely on what they had still to do rather than worrying about the United States. Coach Don Talbot bristled at questions about the rivalry between the two countries.

"They're the best, we're obviously trying to push the Americans off their pedestal but to just focus on two teams, you're out of your mind, and we can't afford to focus just on them," he said.

"We're going to try like hell to make our presence felt, we'll use the crowd to get the best out of ourselves."

But the intent is there to go the US, all right.

Relay team member Kowalski was later asked if the intention was to try and break the world record and replied, "I don't even know what the [4x200m freestyle] record is ... that's a lie, it's 7m 08.79s."

Nine of the 44 Australian swimmers were drug-tested on Monday. The results would show what the team knew, that they were 100 per cent clean.

Talbot said the suggestion that others were on drugs was not something he wanted his swimmers thinking about either. He intervened every time the topic looked like heading off the company line: the history of hard work that had the team feeling well prepared, respect for the opposition, and effort without expectation.

Ian Thorpe: "I judge success on personal performance, not medal-winning.

"If I know I've done everything I can properly I'll be happy, as long as I couldn't have given it any more."

He wasn't sure whether it was an advantage or disadvantage being at home. The support was great, but there was great pressure with it.

"I know I'll swim well but I don't know how well."

Perkins: "I believe in myself, I have the opportunity to win and I believe I will win," said the 28-year-old, who is going for his third gold in the 1500m.

"I have no feeling of need to prove myself or to show other people up."

Seated next to him, Hackett, the 20-year-old heir-apparent: "Anyone else talking themselves up doesn't really worry me. I'm focussed on what I have to do."

Michael Klim: "We're the most looked-at team and hopefully a lot of results will come out of that, out of the support.

"Hopefully people realise that we're out there to do out best and will appreciate that."

Susie O'Neill: "This is the most reporters and cameras I've ever seen, it's pretty exciting."