SYDNEY -- Mai Nakamura led the field until the last two strokes of the pool but had to settle for silver as she claimed Japan's second medal in swimming at the Sydney Olympics in the women's 100-meter backstroke Monday.
The 1999 Pan-Pacific champion, who came fifth in the same event in Atlanta four years ago, was beaten at the finish by Romania's Diana Mocanu, who won her nation's first-ever swimming gold.
"The last four years leading up to this Olympics have gone really quickly, but in these last two days, it seems I've been waiting so long," Nakamura said after the race. "I was very nervous today."