Athens 2004 was to be Ian Thorpe's final Olympic Games. The Australian swimmer who had grabbed so many global headlines in Sydney four years earlier was still just 21, and remained a force to be reckoned with, but the spotlight had now moved on to Michael Phelps.

Swimming has a special place in the heart of many Australian sports fans and they were quick to cheer the efforts of all of the sport's top athletes, regardless of their country of origin. But not surprisingly there was particular affection for the home contingent, not least the hugely popular Susie O'Neill.

The young star of the Australian swimming team was Ian Thorpe, who won his first international medal in 1997 at the age of 14 and was a double world champion the following year. Still aged only 17 by the time Sydney 2000 came around, he entered these Games against a backdrop of massive support from the home supporters and huge interest from the rest of the world.

The young star of the Australian swimming team was Ian Thorpe, who won his first international medal in 1997 at the age of 14 and was a double world champion the following year. Still aged only 17 by the time Sydney 2000 came around, he entered these Games against a backdrop of massive support from the home supporters and huge interest from the rest of the world.

Pieter van den Hoogenband had been a nearly-man in Atlanta four years earlier. Entered in six events, he reached four finals, but two fourth place finishes were the closest he came to a medal. He headed home wondering what he had to do to step up to the next level.

Queen of the Barcelona pool