Australia's Ian Thorpe won the gold medal in the men's 200 metres freestyle at the Athens Olympics on Monday.

Thorpe won the final in one minute 44.71 seconds, just 00.65 outside the world record he set at the 2001 World Championships -- to claim his second gold of the Athens Games after winning the 400 freestyle two days ago.

Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands, the gold medallist in Sydney four years ago, took silver in 1:45.23 seconds while American Michael Phelps collected the bronze in 1:45.32.

Monday's final was billed as swimming's "race of the century" as it pitted the four fastest men in history against each other.

Coughlin wins women's backstroke gold

Natalie Coughlin of the United States won the gold medal in the women's 100 metres backstroke.

Coughlin won the final in one minute 00.37 seconds -- outside her own world record -- to add the Olympic title to the world crown she won three years ago.

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe won the silver in 1:00.50, while French teenager Laure Manaudou took the bronze in 1:00.88, a day after winning gold in the 400 freestyle.

Coughlin won a relay silver on Saturday and is hoping to win five medals in Athens. She is entered in the 100 freestyle and two other relays.

Peirsol wins men's backstroke gold

Aaron Peirsol of the United States won the gold medal in the men's 100 metres backstroke.

Peirsol won the final in 54.06 seconds -- outside compatriot Lenny Krayzelburg's world record -- to add the Olympic title to the world crown he won last year.

Austrian Markus Rogan took the silver in 54.35 while Tomomi Morita of Japan won the bronze in 54.36.

Peirsol, 21, is attempting emulate Krayzelburg's feat of four years ago by winning the backstroke double and the medley relay.