Magnuson sets American record, in position for medal

BEIJING — Christine Magnuson edged closer to an Olympic medal Sunday morning, posting the second-fastest time in the semifinals of the 100-meter butterfly and advancing to Monday’s finals.

Swimming in front a crowd that included President Bush, the former University of Tennessee standout set a new American record of 57.08 seconds, breaking the mark of 57.34 by Natalie Coughlin last year. Magnuson trailed only Lisbeth Trickett of Australia, who finished in 57.05. Only the top eight of the 16 semifinalists at the National Aquatics Center qualified for finals.

Less than 10 minutes after teammate Michael Phelps broke his world record and won a gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley from lane 4, Magnuson swam in the same lane in the first heat of the 100 fly.

“He just warmed it up for me,” said Magnuson, laughing after her race.

About 15 hours earlier Saturday evening, Magnuson swam in the 100 fly preliminaries, tying for the second-fastest time among 49 competitors in 57.70.

“It was a lot better today,” Magnuson said after her race Sunday. “I stayed a lot smoother. I was able to ride my stroke a lot more and use that easy speed in the beginning. I wasn’t as tight.”

Unlike many first-time Olympians, Magnuson said she hasn’t been very nervous. She said she “slept like a rock” Saturday night, and she slept fine on Friday night — until the Opening Ceremony.

“I felt fine last night except for the fireworks that woke me up,” she said. “They were loud.

Magnuson’s time Sunday was the third-fastest time in the world this year. In addition to her 57.05 in the semis, Trickett swam 56.81 earlier this year.

On Monday (10:24 p.m. Sunday), Magnuson will swim for her first Olympic medal with her parents and sister here cheering her on. So what will she do the next 24 hours before the biggest race of her life?

“Rest up, eat, sleep, the normal stuff,” she said. “Just get ready for tomorrow and watch some fast swimming from my teammates.”