S Africa win 400 m mena€™s freestyle relay

Athens:

South Africa's 400-meter men's freestyle relay team set a world record in the Olympic pool, upsetting the favoured United States and Australia and ensuring that American Michael Phelps would not break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals. Phelps got a spot on the American team at the expense of eight-time medalist Gary Hall Jr., but had to settle for bronze when South Africa's surprising performance left the Americans and Australia, which finished sixth, standing glumly on the pool deck. With six events left in Athens, the best Phelps can do is tie Spitz's record. He opened with a gold in the 400 individual medley yesterday, but needed to win gold in all eight finals to surpass Spitz's haul from the 1972 Munich Games. The South Africans broke the Aussies' world record with a stunning time of 3 minutes, 13.17 seconds. The Netherlands took silver at 3:14.36, while Phelps and his American teammates could manage only bronze at 3:14.62. (AP)