THE SEOUL GAMES / FACTS AND FIGURES : Roundup : U.S. Has Slow Day in the Pool

Matt Biondi swam faster than rival Michael Gross of West Germany, and Janet Evans won her preliminary heat Sunday, but neither of the Americans posted the top qualifying time in their event on the first day of Olympic swimming.

Evans and Biondi had the best U.S. performances of the day, as the Americans swam poorly, qualifying two swimmers for the finals in only one of four events.

Biondi, the first swimmer to qualify for the Olympics in seven events since Mark Spitz won seven gold medals in 1972, was second in the 200-meter freestyle heats, and Evans placed third overall in the women’s 400-meter individual medley.

Biondi, of Moraga, Calif., was under world-record pace after 150 meters of the 200 freestyle, but was overtaken by Artur Wojdat of Poland on the last lap. Wojdat, the world record-holder in the 400 freestyle, was timed in 1 minute 48.02 seconds. The 6-foot 6-inch Biondi was second in 1:48.39. In the next heat, Gross, who is 6-7, was timed in 1:48.55. Gross holds the world record in 1:47.44.

Troy Dalbey of San Jose was the fifth fastest of the eight qualifiers for Monday’s finals. His time was 1:48.96.

Evans, of Placentia, favored to win three gold medals, won her preliminary heat in 4:43.04, 1.81 seconds faster than Daniela Hunger of East Germany.

In the previous heat, Noemi Lung of Romania finished in 4:41.96 and Kathleen Nord of East Germany went 4:42.92.

Erika Hansen of King of Prussia, Pa., the second American in the 400 individual medley, was 11th in 4:50.03, nearly eight seconds slower than her time in the trials. Only the top eight preliminary swimmers qualified for Monday’s finals.

Catherine Plewinski of France, ranked 21st in the world, was the surprise top qualifier in the women’s 100-meter freestyle. The top-ranked American, Mitzi Kremer of Titusville, Fla., failed to make the final, finishing 13th. Dara Torres of Beverly Hills, swimming the event because Angel Myers was removed from the team after testing positive for steroids, reached the final in the seventh position.

Adrian Moorhouse of Great Britain reaffirmed his No. 1 world ranking in the 100-meter breaststroke with the top qualifying time in the event. Moorhouse was clocked in 1:02. Rich Schroeder of Lindsay, Calif., ranked second in the world, was the seventh qualifier in 1:03.05, and Daniel Watters of Pensacola, Fla., failed to reach the finals, finishing 15th.

Soccer: West Germany took advantage of an inexperienced Chinese soccer team and won, 3-0, and Italy scored four quick goals against Guatemala in a 5-2 victory as the European teams posted first-round wins.

In other opening-day matches, Tunisia played Sweden to a 2-2 tie and Zambia held on for a 2-2 tie with Iraq.

Team trial cycling: East Germany won the gold medal in 100-kilometer team time trial cycling. Poland won the silver medal, and Sweden took the bronze.

Women’s air rifle: The first gold medal of the 1988 Games was awarded to Irina Chilova of the Soviet Union, who won the women’s air rifle shooting competition.

Silvia Sperber of West Germany took the silver medal, and Anna Maloukhina of the Soviet Union won the bronze.

Volleyball: Brazil, the 1984 silver medalist, swept past Italy, 15-7, 15-4, 17-15. Brazil showed it has survived the turmoil of coaching changes and player discontent by dominating Italy, which won the bronze medal in 1984.

Brazil and Italy are in the same six-team pool with the Soviet Union, which is expected to challenge the United States for the gold.

Basketball: Brazil beat Canada, fourth-place finisher at Los Angeles, 125-109, in an opening-round game. Oscar Schmidt, who shot down the United States in the Pan American Games with 46 points, made 11 of 18 shots and had 36 points.

Puerto Rico, which has a front line of Jose Ortiz (Oregon State, Utah Jazz No. 1 pick), Ramon Ramos (Seton Hall) and Ramon Rivas (Temple), was surprised by Australia, 81-77. The Puerto Rican program is interrupted by the island’s popular summer league. Therefore, the team hadn’t practiced together between the qualifying tournament in May and its arrival here a week ago.