Thompson Helps U.S. Collect Gold

Although five-time Olympic champion Jenny Thompson realized the caliber of the competition, she wasn’t worried once she hit the water in the Pan Pacific swimming meet.

“I felt good in the race and I was in the zone,” said the 24-year-old American, swimming in the event for the fifth time. “I missed my turn, but my second 50 was the difference.”

It was enough to beat China’s 1996 Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder, Le Jingyi, by .04 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle.

“I was excited to race her and get that high-quality competition,” said Thompson, who got her 14th and 15th career gold medals in the biennial Pan Pacific meet as U.S. swimmers won five of eight events in the second day of racing. “I know she’s a world record-holder and always is really fast.”

Australia added three more to the five golds it won Sunday, tying the U.S. team at eight gold medals.