SWIMMING: KING, QUEEN ADD TO THEIR RICHES POPULAR KRAYZELBURG, DE BRUIJN WIN MORE GOLD.

Byline: Karen Crouse Staff Writer

SYDNEY, Australia - Thursday was like Homecoming at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre for the world Class of 2000. A king and queen were crowned and they took a celebratory lap around the pool, just not together.

To be sure, Lenny Krayzelburg and Inge de Bruijn were popular champions on the sixth of eight nights of Olympic swimming competition.

Krayzelburg won the 200-meter backstroke in a spirited duel with U.S. teammate Aaron Peirsol to become the first male swimmer since American Rick Carey in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 races.

Krayzelburg, who turns 25 next week, was timed in 1 minute, 56.76 seconds to the 17-year-old Piersol's 1:57.35. Peirsol, a high school senior from Irvine, split a faster final 50 than Krayzelburg to give the world-record holder (1:55.87) from Studio City a scare.

``I saw Aaron coming and I was just hanging on for dear life,'' said Krayzelburg, a USC graduate. ``I was just hoping I had enough fuel left in me. I was in so much pain afterward, I could hardly stand up.''

In the very next final, de Bruijn came within .06 seconds of her day-old world record in the 100 freestyle. Her time of 53.83 was a half-second better than runner-up Therese Alshammar's effort.

Americans Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres shared the bronze medal with identical times of 54.43. It was the first time there had been a tie for one of the first three spots in the event since Americans Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer shared the gold medal in 1984. And it was likely the last race for Thompson, who finishes with nine Olympic medals, none of them an individual gold.

In other races, Tom Dolan became the first American to break the 2- minute barrier in the 200 individual medley but had to settle for the silver medal behind Italy's Rosolino Massimiliano, who clocked a 1:58.98 to Dolan's 1:59.77. Hungary's Agnes Kovacs, a two-time Olympian like Dolan, held off Americans Kristy Kowal and Amanda Beard in the 200 breaststroke.

De Bruijn, 27, emotes like a high school cheerleader and she's just as effusive. The sellout crowds of more than 17,000 have adopted her, dubbing the Dutchwoman ``The Queen of Swimming.''

``That's a tremendously great feeling to know I'm appreciated in this country,'' said de Bruijn, who loves the attention. ``I just pretend all 17,000 people come for me even though I know it's not true,'' she said with a giggle.

Krayzelburg and de Bruijn came into this meet sharing the dubious distinction of being the gold-medal favorites in all their events. How difficult is it to swim well at the Olympics when you have a bull's-eye on your back?

Australian freestyle ace Ian Thorpe, who considers himself an expert on the subject, did the math and figured out only 18 percent of the swimmers expected to win gold medals have managed to do so. When viewed from that angle, it makes perfect sense that Krayzelburg would say his overriding emotion in achieving what was foreordained was relief.

``When you get (on this stage), it's an anxious situation,'' Krayzelburg said. ``There's a lot of pressure. Sometimes you tend to get uptight and you're afraid to trust yourself to swim the race the way you know you should.''

Krayzelburg was mindful of soaking up every molecule of magic during the backstroke awards presentation because he doesn't know when he'll get that feeling again. It could be as soon as Saturday, in the 400 medley relay. Or in 2004.

Or never again. In the history of the Olympics, only three male backstrokers have successfully defended their 100 title and only one, East German Roland Matthes, has won back-to-back titles in the 200. Krayzelburg admitted his backstroke hasn't felt quite the same since he set the world records last summer.

``I talked a lot about winning two gold medals but now I'm sitting here with two gold medals,'' Krayzelburg said. ``I'm speechless. It's a humbling experience because it doesn't happen very often.''

Krayzelburg hurdled a barrier to embrace his parents during the victory walk around the pool. He planned to give his medal to his mother, Yelena. His father, Oleg, has his 100 backstroke gold.

An hour after the race, Krayzelburg had yet to cool down. He couldn't take two steps toward the warm-down pool without being stopped by a swimmer wanting an autograph or a volunteer proffering a hug.

Of course Krayzelburg obliged everyone.

His amiability left a lasting impression on one volunteer, a young woman named Yvette. She had met Krayzelburg at the Pan Pac Championships here last year and the two had exchanged a few e-mails this year. Whenever Krayzelburg sees her on the pool deck now, he greets her warmly, as he does every friend and acquaintance.

Yvette was beaming Thursday - and so was Yelena.

``I'm the happiest mother in the world,'' Yelena Krayzelburg said. ``Everybody loves my son.''

G'day from Australia

Olympic pins are as passe as the U.S. Olympic softball team. Oh, you still see traders with tables and towels set up like barkers along Darling Harbour. Generally speaking, though, the buzz on pins is nowhere near as big as in previous years.

On the face of it, they would appear to have been supplanted by temporary tattoos. Everywhere you look there are people old and small, young and tall, wearing tattoos of their favorite country's flag on their cheeks or foreheads.

Five dollars gets you a pack of four. Naturally, the Australian flag and the boxing kangaroo are the top sellers; some stores in Darling Harbour report they're having a hard time keeping up with the demand. If you're going for a cheeky display of nationalism, they definitely are your ticket.

Catch ya' later.

Karen Crouse

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Lenny Krayzelburg, en route to victory in the 200-meter backstroke, has won two gold medals.

David Longstreath/Associated Press

(2 -- color) Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands, dubbed ``The Queen of Swimming'' by the Aussies, won the 100-meter freestyle on Thursday.

Eric Draper/Associated Press

Box: G'day from Australia (see text)