THE DISAPPOINTED

For French mermaid Laure Manaudou, the Beijing Games have been nothing but disappointment. The defending Olympic champion completed her prime event of the 400m freestyle, more than nine seconds slower than her personal best, and failed to qualify in two backstroke races. She had a messy break-up with her boyfriend and changed coaches before the Games. There was no one else to blame.

American Katie Hoff, dubbed the "female Phelps", left Beijing with two bronzes and a silver. Not exactly empty-handed, but she could have gotten more. The 19-year-old, entered in six events, was dragged down by an ambitious program.

In the men's league, Australian Eamon Sullivan left the Water Cube also with regrets. He walked away with two world records in 50m free and 100m free, but failed to win either event.

FAREWELL PARTY

The flying Dutchman Hoogenband left, and Australian long-distance king Grant Hackett is dethroned and ready to go.

Pieter van den Hoogenband, 31, was the Sydney and Athens champion in 100m freestyle. He swam a personal best here but was out of the top three in the fast-evolving race. "This is the end of my career," he said.

Hackett also failed to defend his title in his signature event the 1,500m freestyle at his last Olympics. "I won't be there (London) in four years time. My body's getting a little old and a little bit tired from so much distance training," the 28-year-old Australian said.

American Dara Torres, 41, is the past generation in a present tense. She is the oldest swimmer to make the Beijing Games. With three silver medals in Beijing, she is likely to cap a 24-year-long swimming career.

GOLD IN ANYWAY

Gold is gold, but it is not the only measuring stick.

In the end, a swimmer leaves the Olympics with a gold in different forms: a gold medal, a golden experience or a golden lesson.

Dwayne Benjamin Didon, a 13-year-old from Seychelles of Africa, finished the 50m free about seven seconds slower than the best swimmers. For him, the Olympics is his gold. "It's a dream coming true," he said. "Every day I dreamed of coming to the Olympics."

French bulky swimmer Alain Bernard lost a crucial last leg to American Jason Lezak in the 4X100m freestyle race, but came up to win the 100m freestyle.

"This is a huge victory over myself," he said.

American swimmer Eric Shanteau was diagnosed with testicular cancer but he came to the Olympics. Although he failed to enter the final of his only race, the 200m breaststroke, his story remains one of the most inspiring at the Beijing Games.

"There's a lot more to life than the Olympic Games and I think having learned that lesson really quickly has kind of helped keep this whole thing in perspective for me," Eric said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)