Olympic highlights

POOL BABE

Olympic gold medallist Amanda Beard said she would continue to pose for glossy magazines as a sideline to her swimming.

The 22-year-old women's 200m breaststroke winner has become swimming's version of tennis player Anna Kournikova, doing several magazine shoots in recent months. "I have fun with it. It gives me something to do outside swimming."

Asked if she had trouble with other athletes hounding her for autographs at the athletes' village, the Californian blushed. "Oh, God. I don't know how to answer that question. That's embarrassing."

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ATHENS DELIGHTS

The Olympic hosts are winning rave reviews after the first week of the Games, with foreign visitors expressing delight with the friendly, clean and well-organised Greek capital. These are qualities rarely associated with the sprawling metropolis of four-million which suffered a steady dose of bad publicity in the run-up to the Games because of construction chaos, ballooning costs and security concerns. But yesterday, with the 16-day event almost halfway through, the last-minute efforts had paid off.

"They can be very proud. Everything is perfect, so well organised," said Daniel Nilsson of Stockholm.

"Athens exceeded our expectations," said Bernard Ng, a Singaporean.

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QUOTED

"Our strength is through the middle and in the last 500m. We haven't shown all our cards yet, we've just got to go for it." - New Zealand coxless four rower Don Leach.

"They took the bike and swiftly set out for the Olympic Village to say, 'We are here. We're not hiding' and unfortunately, this accident occurred - which is traumatising, which is real - they were injured and these injuries have been certified by six top doctors from our country." - Costas Kenteris' lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos.

"We made the big step to the quarter-finals. Now we have to win one more game. It's amazing." - New Zealand guard Phill Jones after the Tall Blacks final-seconds win over Serbia & Montenegro.

"I was so nervous leading into all my races, and when you have a bad swim, dealing with that and getting your confidence back ... I was just numb afterwards." - New Zealand swimmer Hannah McLean