Aug. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Michael Phelps and world-record holder Ian Thorpe go head-to-head tonight in the 200-meter freestyle swimming final at the Athens Olympics.

Phelps, a 19-year-old American, must win the 200 freestyle to keep alive his bid for a record-tying seven gold medals at one Games. He took his first gold medal on Saturday in the 400-meter individual medley. Thorpe, the top swimmer at his home Games in Australia four years ago, is seeking his second gold in Athens after winning the 400-meter freestyle. The contest is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. local time.

``I've talked about this race for quite some time,'' said Thorpe, 21, who has set six world records in the event. ``Michael Phelps is a great swimmer and he has my respect. I have some achievements of my own, so I'll be giving it everything I have.''

Concern about the lack of fans attending the Games, coupled with Greece's top two track sprinters failing to take a drug test, have diverted attention from one of the biggest showdowns of the week.

The first two full days of competition drew small crowds to most venues. Organizers said more than half the tickets were sold yesterday, although many people didn't show up to watch the events.

Postponed Again

The International Olympic Committee postponed a ruling for a second time on the drug case of 200-meter champion Kostas Kenteris and women's 100-meter silver medalist Ekaterini Thanou. The runners, among the biggest celebrities in their native Greece, are recovering from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said the case would be decided on Wednesday. The runners were suspended by the Greek Olympic Committee after they missed a drug test last week, the day before the Games opened.

The U.S. men's gymnastics team is favored to win the gold medal in another featured event on the third day of competition. The first medals of the day were awarded in shooting, while there are also finals in synchronized diving, judo and weightlifting. The rowing events were postponed until tomorrow because of strong winds.

China's Zhu Qinan won the men's 10-meter air rifle competition with a record score. The 19-year-old marksman amassed 702.7 points to improve the mark set by Jason Parker of the U.S. in June 2003 and win China's sixth gold medal of the Games. Compatriot Li Jie was second with Slovakia's Jozef Gonci taking bronze.

Car Death

Suzanne Balogh of Australia took the women's trap-shooting event ahead of Spain's Maria Quintanal and Bo Na Lee of South Korea.

Danish sailor Nicklas Holm was cleared to compete in next week's Star class competition after police released him from custody following a car accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian in Kalamaki near the sailing venue.

In the pool, Phelps began his day by easing through the 200- meter butterfly heats to match the fastest time set by Japan's Takashi Yamamoto.

After winning the 400-meter medley in world-record time on the opening day of the swimming competition, Phelps won a bronze medal yesterday in the 400 freestyle relay. He must win all six of his remaining events -- four individual and two relays -- to tie Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Games.

Thorpe Target

Thorpe finished second to Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands in the 200 freestyle in Sydney, but won gold medals in three other events. In Athens, he's trying to become the first swimmer to win the 100, 200 and 400 freestyle at the same Olympics.

Besides Thorpe, Phelps will have to overcome Van den Hoogenband and Grant Hackett of Australia, all with faster times than the American in the 200 freestyle.

South Africa won the 400 freestyle relay in world-record time, while van den Hoogenbrand swam the fastest leg of the race to help the Netherlands earn the silver medal.

American Dana Vollmer had the best qualifying time in the women's 200-meter freestyle, followed by Claudia Poll Ahrens of Costa Rica and Paulina Barzycka of Poland. Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe led qualifiers in the women's 200-meter individual medley, while defending champion Yana Klochkova of the Ukraine was second and American Katie Hoff was third.

All three finals will be held tomorrow night. Tonight's swimming finals include the women's and men's 100 backstroke, and the women's 100 breaststroke.

Judo

Judo's ruling body is investigating an Iranian who was disqualified from the Olympics for being overweight, a day after a report in his home country said he would drop out rather than face an Israeli opponent.

Arash Miresmaeili, a two-time world champion in the 66- kilogram category, became the first in his sport to weigh too much for an Olympic event, International Judo Federation spokesman Michel Brousse said. Miresmaeili carried his country's flag in Friday's opening ceremony.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dex McLuskey in Athens on at dmcluskey@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 16, 2004 10:49 EDT