Sometimes, hype can be a star's worst enemy.

Expectation can build, to the point where it freezes the limbs, it chills the blood, it blanks out the mind. Ask, say, Ronaldo, of recent World Cup vintage.

It takes a special kind of man to absorb it all, and yet remain unimpeded by the excess baggage.

On the first day of Olympic competition, we saw one such man. Ian Thorpe -- the Thorpedo, to his fans.

Consider this: As he walks out for the heats -- the heats, mind you -- of the 400m individual freestyle, a houseful crowd awaits him. The Australians have had their faces rubbed in American domination of the pool. It is now payback time, and they want blood.

Elected to deliver, is Thorpe -- just 17, yet already the subject of intense speculation, revolving around just one question: Is this man the greatest swimmer ever?

Completely unfazed, Thorpe almost strolls through his heat -- and still breaks the Olympic record. "I was swimming comfortably," he says.

Then he returns -- and with no competition to push him, flies through the water and smashes the world record.

That would be enough to crown him Olympian of the Day -- yet Thorpe has more in store.

Less than an hour later, he is back -- swimming the last lap of the 4x100 metre relay, against the undefeated, invincible, Americans.

It is neck and neck, and finally, it is all up to Thorpe. Racing against him is Gary Hall, a sprint specialist in the pool. At the 50m mark, Thorpe trails -- and then, in the way of champions, he produces that one stunning, lung-bursting, heart-pounding burst that leaves his rival standing still.

Another gold. Another world record. Yet the same shy, unassuming smile.

If fish could talk, they would go up to him and say, "Welcome to the club, Thorpey!"