The first day of the XXXIV Seven Hills International meet at the Del Nuoto Aquatics Center in Rome, the third in the 2001 Mare Nostrum Series, was yet another pulsating affair with some exciting performances witnessed by the capacity crowd.

The magnificent venue was constructed 42 years ago to host the 1960 Rome Olympics boasts excellent facilities and hosted the 1994 FINA World Championships.

The evening's proceedings got underway with the men's 400m freestyle, which saw Australian superstar Ian Thorpe, come