SYDNEY, 31 March 2004 — Dual Olympic gold medalist Michael Klim edged closer to a berth at the Athens Olympics by qualifying for the 100-meters freestyle final at the national swimming trials yesterday.

The former world record holder clocked the equal third fastest time for today’s final in 49.78sec.

Ian Thorpe (49.24s) was the quickest qualifier ahead of Ashley Callus (49.59s) while Klim and Todd Pearson finished in a dead-heat. Thorpe won his 100m freestyle semifinal in 49.24 seconds.

The Olympic 400m freestyle champion, who was attempting to qualify for the 100, 200 and 400 freestyle events and three relays at Athens, was disqualified from his 400 heat last week and ruled out of the event under the one false-start policy.

The sport-mad country has since debated if Thorpe should be given another chance to qualify for his favorite event, though the 21-year-old ignored the hysteria and maintained his focus to win the 200m final on Monday at the championships, which double as selection trials for the Aug. 13-29 Athens Games.

Klim has battled ankle, shoulder and back problems since the 2000 Sydney Olympics and has to be careful not to push his body in the early rounds of competition. Klim must finish in the top six in the finals to strengthen his case for inclusion in the 4x100m freestyle team.

Linda MacKenzie earlier upstaged Petria Thomas and reigning national champion Elka Graham in the 200m freestyle final.

MacKenzie touched out Thomas in a time of 1:58.52s, which would have had her in the medals at last year’s world championships in Barcelona. The 20-year-old Australian Institute of Sport swimmer has slashed 2.6 seconds off her personal best time this week.

MacKenzie has already booked a trip to Athens by winning the 400m final.

Justin Norris and Travis Nederpelt went 1-2 in the 200m individual medley final just as they did in the 400m IM final on the weekend.