Disappointment and Gold

Four-time gold medalist Janet Evans shockingly failed to qualify for the 400-meter freestyle final Monday in Atlanta, edged out by an Irish swimmer allowed to compete at the last minute after a failed protest by the United States. Evans qualified ninth, and Michelle Smith, who was second in qualifying, went on to win the gold, her second of the Games. Evans, 24, has only one more chance to tie speedskater Bonnie Blair for most gold medals by an American woman. Other U.S. swimmers fared better. The American women won the 400-meter freestyle relay, Beth Botsford and Whitney Hedgepeth went 1-2 in the 100-meter backstroke, Gary Hall Jr. won the silver in the 100 freestyle and Tom Malchow finished second in the 200 butterfly. Elsewhere, the women’s field hockey team stunned Korea, 3-2, and the Dream Team prepared to face Angola.