Eighteen-year-old Sydney wonder boy Ian Thorpe, destroyed the world record with a time of 1:44.69, taking back the mark Dutchman, Pieter van den Hoogenband stole from him at last year's Sydney Olympics at the Tattersall's Hobart Aquatic Centre

His time of 1:44.69 (24.96; 51.90; 1:18.27)lopped a staggering 0.65 seconds off the record and left the rest of the field in his wake, winning by over three body lengths.