The Top Swimmer Award Goes to . . . Oops!

Red-faced officials at the world swimming championships have apologized to Australia’s Hayley Lewis and Hungarian Tamas Darnyi over a mix-up at Sunday night’s closing ceremonies.

In a presentation of special awards by the international swimming body, FINA, Lewis was given the Politika Prize as the outstanding swimmer of the championships.

As the winner of a gold, two silvers and a bronze medal, the Brisbane teen-ager was the choice of the home crowd.

But Darnyi, who won two gold medals and a bronze and set world records in the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medleys, actually won the award. And FINA officials said today there never should have been a mix-up.

According to officials, the award was intended for Darnyi, whose name appeared on the Superdrome poolside scoreboard as the winner.

But just as his name flashed onto the board the announcer read out Lewis’ name.

The announcer said today that the name “Hayley Lewis” was written on a piece of paper handed to him.

Championship Executive Director Mick Aitken said he had no idea how the mix-up had occurred and apologized to both swimmers.

In Brisbane, Lewis’ mother, Jan, confirmed she had handed the glass crystal trophy back to swimming officials before she left Perth for home on Sunday night. “They took it off us at the airport,” Mrs. Lewis said.