Shooting for the Record

Like Marion Jones, who's trying to become the first female track
and field athlete to win five events, these Olympians could make
history in Sydney:

Jenny Thompson, swimming
Thompson, who has five gold medals (all in relays), needs one
more to surpass speedskater Bonnie Blair for the most by a U.S.
woman.

Steven Redgrave, rowing
If the British four without cox wins, the only oarsman to have
earned gold medals at four Games will make it five.

Dara Torres, swimming
At 33, Torres will be the first American to swim in four
Olympics and could become the oldest U.S. female swimmer to win
a medal and the first swimmer of either sex from any nation to
win medals at four Games.

Teresa Edwards (right), basketball
With three golds and a bronze already, the 36-year-old U.S.
guard should become the first hoopster to win five medals.

Alexander Popov, swimming
The Russian Rocket, 28, could threepeat in both the 50 and 100
freestyle; if he also wins two relay medals, he will pass Mark
Spitz and Matt Biondi as history's most decorated swimmer, with
12 medals.

Birgit Fischer, canoe-kayak
In '96, Fischer, a German, became the first woman in any sport
to win gold 16 years apart when she added a kayak fours victory
to her singles win in Moscow. Make that 20 years apart if, at
38, she triumphs again in kayak pairs or fours.

Alexander Karelin, wrestling
Russia's legendary super heavyweight has never lost an
international Greco-Roman match. He could become the first
grappler to win four golds.

Tegla Loroupe, track and field
Kenya produces the world's finest distance runners, but no
athlete from that nation has won an Olympic marathon; women's
world-record holder Loroupe could be the first.

Naim Suleymanoglu, weightlifting
Turkey's Pocket Hercules, the only lifter to hoist three gold
medals, is favored to pick up a fourth in the 137-pound class.

--Brian Cazeneuve

COLOR PHOTO: ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP