Thorpe returned to victory when he led off the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay the following night, setting up a 10 m lead over American Scott Goldblatt in the first leg. Although Thorpe was unable to reclaim the individual world record,Swanton, p. 109. he, Klim, Kirby and Todd Pearson lowered their world record to 7 min 07.05 s,Swanton, p. 110. over five seconds ahead of the Americans—the largest winning margin in an Olympic relay for half a century.Talbot, p. 196. Thorpe rounded off his Olympics by swimming in the heats of the 4 × 100 m medley relay, and collected a silver medal when the finals quartet finished behind the Americans.Swanton, p. 111.Hunter, p. 232. Thorpe's performances as Australia's leading medalist for the Games were recognised when the Australian Olympic Committee granted him the honour of carrying the flag at the closing ceremony.Hunter, p. 238. With three gold and two silver medals, Thorpe was the most successful athlete at the 2000 Olympic Games. At year's end, he was again named by Swimming Australia as the Swimmer of the Year, but van den Hoogenband usurped him as the leading male swimmer chosen by Swimming World Magazine.Hunter, pp. 226–234.
Thorpe returned to victory when he led off the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay the following night, setting up a 10 m lead over American Scott Goldblatt in the first leg. Although Thorpe was unable to reclaim the individual world record,Swanton, p. 109. he, Klim, Kirby and Todd Pearson lowered their world record to 7 min 07.05 s,Swanton, p. 110. over five seconds ahead of the Americans—the largest winning margin in an Olympic relay for half a century.Talbot, p. 196. Thorpe rounded off his Olympics by swimming in the heats of the 4 × 100 m medley relay, and collected a silver medal when the finals quartet finished b.ehind the Americans.Swanton, p. 111.Hunter, p. 232. Thorpe's performances as Australia's leading medalist for the Games were recognised when the Australian Olympic Committee granted him the honour of carrying the flag at the closing ceremony.Hunter, p. 238. With three gold and two silver medals, Thorpe was the most successful athlete at the 2000 Olympic Games. At year's end, he was again named by Swimming Australia as the Swimmer of the Year, but van den Hoogenband usurped him as the leading male swimmer chosen by Swimming World Magazine.Hunter, pp. 226–234.