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Popov On Show In Telstra Grand Prix In Melbourne

Aug 24, 2000

Press Release
Alex Popov will fine tune his assault on the Sydney Olympics with a final hit out at this weekend's (August 26, 27) Telstra Grand Prix at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (Albert Park).

If the 28-year-old four-time Olympic champion can add one more gold medal in either the 50 or 100 metres freestyle, he will become the first male swimmer to "do a Dawn."

He will get the opportunity twice before Australia's Kieren Perkins gets his chance in the 1500 metres freestyle on the final day.

Popov has won both the 50 and 100 metre freestyle doubles and Perkins the 1500 metre double at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games.

Popov recently broke American Tom Jager's 50 metres freestyle world record at the Russian Olympic Trials in Moscow.

Fraser became the first swimmer to win the same event three-times when she won the 100 metres freestyle at the 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome and 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Only Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi, who won the 200 metres backstroke in Seoul in 1988, Barcelona in '92 and Atlanta in '96, has joined Fraser as a triple winner in the pool.

Popov will have a good look at his opposition in Melbourne with Australian sprint trio Michael Klim (Popov's training partner), Brett Hawke and Chris Fydler joining Algerian Salim Iles in the 50 and 100 metre freestyle events.

The Grand Prix will feature the full 44-strong Australian team