ATHENS, Greece (Aug 21 2004) -- Toilet News from the XXVIII Olympiad
American Larsen Jensen's strategy of using toilet seat as an inspirational billboard paid off with a silver medal in the 1500 meters freestyle Saturday.
Jensen said he had plastered notes with his goal time for the Olympics -- 14 minutes 45 seconds -- throughout his apartment, including on his toilet seat.
"I basically overdid it, it's wallpaper," Jensen, 18, told reporters.
Jensen finished in an American record 14:45.29, just 1.89 seconds behind defending champion Grant Hackett of Australia, who had been considered virtually unbeatable.
Jensen's finish was the best by an American in the event since Mike O'Brien won it at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Asked why U.S. distance swimmers had been behind the rest of the world Jensen said: "I think it might a problem with American society today just not wanting to work, not wanting to pay the price."
© 2004 Reuters