Germany’s Bartko Prevails in Pursuit

Robert Bartko of Germany broke his own Olympic record, set one day earlier, to win the Olympic gold medal in the men’s 4,000-meter individual pursuit final Sunday at Sydney.

Bartko’s record time was 4:18.515. Jens Lehmann of Germany won the silver in 4:23.824, and Australia’s Brad McGee the bronze in 4:19.250.

In the Olympic sprint, France won the gold medal, using an all-star lineup of Laurent Gane, Florian Rousseau and Arnaud Tournant to finish the three-lap event in 44.233 seconds. Britain won the silver and Australia the bronze. The U.S. sprint squad of Johnny Bairos of Redlands, Marcelo Arrue of Woodland Hills and Jonas Carney of Pacifica, Calif., finished in 12th in 46.337 seconds.

In the men’s 4,000-meter team pursuit Britain set an Olympic record of 4:04.03 in establishing the fastest qualifying time today. There won’t be another medal for Erin Hartwell, who failed in his bid to become the first U.S. cyclist to medal in three consecutive Olympics, after the United States was timed in 4:12.494, 10th of 12 teams.