1.
GV Women's 400 metres free style (5 shots)
0.42

2.
GV Winner Cynthia Woodhead receiving medal
0.48

3.
GV Women's 400 metres individual medley (5 shots)
1.28

4.
GV Winner Tracy Caulkins receiving medal
1.34



Initials BB/


SPORT: SWIMMING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Top U.S. Women swimmers were aiming for world records at Tokyo's Yoyogi Olympic stadium for the first International Swimming Federation (FINA) championships on Saturday (1 September). And despite strong opposition from more than 200 swimmers from eight countries, America's Tracy Caulkins and Cynthia Woodhead clinched the gold medals in the 400 metres individual medley and 400 metres freestyle.

SYNOPSIS: 15-year-old Cynthia Woodhead from Riverside, California faced her seven opponents with determination right from the start. Her strongest challenge came from Australian, Tracy Wickham who beat her last year at the World Swimming Championships in West Berlin. But this time Cynthia Woodhead led all the way and never looked as if she might lost her head.

The American freestyle expert did beat Tracy Wickham by about a length. Her time for the gold medal -- four minutes, 10.53 seconds. But it was not fast enough for Cynthia Woodhead to break the Brisbane girl's world record.

The second American victory on Saturday came in the 400 metres individual medley. Here Tracy Caulkins was a clear favourite for she holds the world record in this event -- set last year at four minutes 40.83 seconds. At the 50 metre mark she jumped into the lead and swam on to score an easy victory in her speciality race.

Another gold medal for the United States then, even though Tracy Caulkins winning time of four minutes 45.59 was five seconds slower than her world record time.