PHELPS' QUEST COMES TO EARLY END THRILLING RACE MEANS SPITZ'S GOLD STANDARD WILL REMAIN.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

ATHENS, Greece - It was the greatest showdown of these Olympics, history waiting to unfold beneath a beautiful Greek sunset.

There was no disappointment in the thrilling race, yet when it was over, when Michael Phelps seemed to drag himself out of the pool, his quest for record gold was over.

Now Phelps will have to settle for leaving these Olympics as one of its greatest swimmers ever, but not a legendary one.

Give him credit, he took on the world's best Monday evening in the men's 200-meter freestyle, facing down world-record holder Ian Thorpe of Australia and defending Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands.

Yet on this wind-blown evening, Thorpe overcame an early lead by van den Hoogenband and ran him down in the last 50 meters to avenge his loss to the Dutchman in Sydney, Australia.

Phelps also charged at the end, but had to settle for bronze and the knowledge that he will not be able to match the Mark Spitz record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics.

Phelps swam the fastest 200 of his life, setting an American record in 1:45.32. But it was not enough to overcome van den Hoogenband (1:45.23) and Thorpe (1:44.71).

So there will not be eight or even seven golds for Phelps, whom too many will see as a victim of his own lofty ambitions, a failure for having reached high.

``How can I be disappointed?'' Phelps asked. ``I swam in the field with the two fastest 200 meter freestylers of all time and I was in there with them. I'm extremely happy.''

It was a memorable race, likely the greatest 200-meter final in history and one of the best races ever. All three times were good enough to take the gold at the 2000 Olympics.

On the final turn, Thorpe still was in second and looking at his second consecutive silver medal in the 200 freestyle.

But the Human Torpedo had something memorable left. He caught van den Hoogenband with approximately 25 meters to go and Phelps also closing.

Then Thorpe chased him down, his all-black full racing suit almost gliding through the pool with beautiful, powerful strokes.

``He has the perfect stroke,'' Phelps said. ``It's unbelievable how he moves through the water.''

Phelps actually had the fastest final 50 meters, yet it was only good enough for bronze.

It officially ended his pursuit of the Spitz record, though the 19-year-old from Baltimore said he had no regrets over his decision to face the world's best in the 200 freestyle.

``That's the first time I raced those guys in that event and it's fun,'' he said. ``I had fun doing it.

``I had an opportunity to swim in probably the fastest 200-meter freestyle field in history. To be a part of that is an honor in itself.''

The day was not without gold for the U.S. team, however, as Aaron Peirsol won the men's, and Natalie Coughlin the women's, 100 backstroke.

Lenny Krayzelburg of Studio City, the defending 100 backstroke champion, finished fourth - 0.02 seconds behind Japan's Tomomi Morita. Krayzelburg, who still will compete in the early 400 medley relay, said he will retire after the Olympics.

American Amanda Beard, one of the favorites in the women's 100 breaststroke, finished fourth.

The glamour race of the night, though, was clearly the men's 200 freestyle. With his victory, Thorpe - who was the sensation at the Sydney Olympics with five medals - cemented his place in history.

``He's the best middle distance freestyler in history,'' Phelps coach, Bob Bowman, said.

Thorpe, 21, was cool under the showdown's glare. He never showed nerves, refused to crack when he fell behind, and acted like someone who had been in a huge race before.

``It became a big deal,'' Thorpe said. ``I wasn't focusing too much on that. I really wanted to concentrate on what I was trying to do tonight.

``Actually, I swum the race well. I wanted to go fast and not worry about what my competitors were doing.''

Thorpe is mature and cool beyond his years, but the youthful Phelps handled defeat graciously.

``Right now, three days into the Olympic Games, I'm already successful,'' Phelps said. ``From here on out, it's history for me.''

He's more right than he probably realizes.

Phelps now has three overall medals (one gold, two bronze) and remains in excellent position to medal in his five final events.

If he does, he will match gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin of the USSR for most medals in a single Summer Olympics. Dityatin had eight medals (three gold, four silver, one bronze) in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Certainly, Phelps can probably relax after his record gold quest ended.

``Now it's just go out and swim as fast as I can,'' he said. ``I guess you could say a little bit of pressure is off.''

Peirsol never seemed concerned with pressure in the men's 100 backstroke. He blazed out to an early lead and then held off Austria's Markus Rogan, 54.06 to 54.35.

``I just feel like I was really ready for this race,'' said Peirsol. ``It felt great right from the beginning. I took it out as fast as I could and tried to hold on.''

His race was similar to Coughlin's, who also blazed out to an early lead and then held off Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry.

``I think I got way too excited in the beginning,'' she said. ``I just went out too fast in that first 50. Luckily I was able to stay calm, focused and not let my emotions get the best of me in the last 50.''

Steve Dilbeck, [phone]

stephen.dilbeck(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) From left, Michael Phelps of the U.S., Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands and Ian Thorpe of Australia race in a dramatic 100-meter freestyle final. Thorpe won in 1:44.71.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

(2) Australian Ian Thorpe pumps his fist after coming from behind to capture the gold.

Mark Baker/Associated Press