Ian Thorpe had captured two gold medals on the opening night of the swimming competition and all eyes were on him to see if he could pull off a gold medal hat-trick by winning the men’s 200m freestyle.
Sydney 2000 Relived: Day 3, 18 September 2000
![Pieter van den Hoogenband and Ian Thorpe following the 200m Freestyle](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.olympics.com.au%2Fpublic%2Fstyles%2Flandscape_header_section%2Fs3%2F2020-09%2F18%2520-%2520van%2520den%2520Hoogenband%2520and%2520Ian%2520Thorpe%2520following%2520the%2520200m%2520Freestyle.jpg.webp%3Fitok%3Do7cTdKwT&w=1200&q=90)
Ian Thorpe had captured two gold medals on the opening night of the swimming competition and all eyes were on him to see if he could pull off a gold medal hat-trick by winning the men’s 200m freestyle.