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American Peter Marshall opened the gold account for the United States at the 21st World University Games on Friday by winning the men's 100 meters backstroke in a meet record time.
Peter, dominating the rest of field, came home strongly in the final with a personal-best in 54.74 seconds, lifting 0.66 seconds from the Universiade record he set in the semifinals.
His teammate Todd Smolinski, in lane seven, had the silver in 55.94 seconds, beating V Nikolaychiuk of Ukraine into the third place in 56.12.
Peter, a Stanford student majoring in Civil Engineering, said:" I am very pleased to win the first gold medal in all events for the US team at the Games. I am also happy my teammate Todd took the silver for our country."
Peter's time of 54.74 was faster than the bronze medalist's clocking at the Sydney Olympic Games.
(Xinhua News Agency 08/25/2001)
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