Australia's Ian Thorpe successfully defended his 400 metres freestyle gold medal at the Athens Olympics on Saturday.

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The 21-year-old won in a time of three minutes 43.10 seconds, just outside his own world record and just ahead of his compatriot Grant Hackett, who finished second in 3:43.36. American Klete Keller who was third in 3:44.11.

Thorpe, who won three gold medals in Sydney as a 17-year-old, has not lost a 400 freestyle race in seven years but almost missed the chance to defend his title in Athens after he slipped off the blocks and was disqualified for a false start at the Australian Olympic trials.

He failed with an appeal to be reinstated and only got to swim the event after his team mate Craig Stevens gave up his spot to focus on his other events.