Swimming: Elated Jeffs makes it to world's top 10

By CHRIS RATTUE at the Games

It was another Ian Thorpe night at the Games pool, even though the world's most famous swimmer came second.

But New Zealanders had the chance to hold their head high when 33-year-old veteran Toni Jeffs won the bronze medal in the 50m freestyle, emulating her performance in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

Finally, New Zealand had a swimming medal and it continued the rejuvenation of the career of a swimmer once dubbed the bad girl of the sport in New Zealand.

Not only did the Wellingtonian claim a medal, she also knocked a half-second off her best time with a 25.43s swim in the heats.

Like England's former sprint champion Linford Christie and Frankie Fredericks, of Namibia, a 34-year-old 200m gold medallist in Manchester, Jeffs has improved with age.

She broke the national 50m record with her time in the heats and swam 25.49s in the final, which for the first time in her life ranks her in the world's top 10.

"I'm swimming faster than I ever was. I'm in better nick physically and mentally than I was when I was 25."

Jeffs has no intention of retiring, and has her sights set on the Athens Olympics.

"Why not, after lowering my best time like that? There's no reason why I shouldn't keep going, if the mind is willing and the body is willing."

What about other things in life - maybe having children?

"I'd never want to have children and then wish I'd kept swimming. I've got to do what I want to do at the moment.

"I think a lot of people really respect me for keeping going. It's been a tough journey at times, but an enjoyable journey."

Jeffs finished behind Alison Sheppard, of Scotland, and Australian Jodie Henry.

Soon after, Dean Kent - rated New Zealand's best male medal hope - finished fifth in the 200m individual medley, after placing fourth in the 400m version last week.

According to some, Ian Thorpe lost on the night, even though he won silver in the 100m backstroke behind compatriot and world champion Matt Welsh.

"He's such a nice loser," an English journalist remarked, before an Australian swimming official bristled that Thorpe had actually won a medal.

It meant that the great freestyler could win only, if that's the right word, six gold medals at these Games. He had already won five before his "failure."

Thorpe put minimal training work into the backstroke and had not swum that stroke at any type of meeting - apart from the last Australian nationals where he qualified - since he was 14.

Thorpe's media conference was held before the winner's, and even Welsh asked him some questions. Some of the media then left as Welsh took the interview stand. Everyone lives in the Thorpe shadow.

"At no stage did I expect to win," Thorpe had told the gathering.

"I love swimming backstroke, and I have a good laugh at myself. When I see the video and see my start, I chuckle because it's so bad."

Thorpe, however, will not - in the way of Jeffs - be swimming into his 30s. The 2008 Olympics in China will be his swan song.

"When I fail to want to get up in the morning to train or when I've reached being the best swimmer I know I can be, I'll retire ... hopefully it will be for the second reason."

It is the same sentiment that still drives Toni Jeffs.

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