Adrian pips Magnussen for 100 free gold

American Nathan Adrian touched out Australia's world champion James Magnussen by one-hundredth of a second to win the gold medal in a thrilling men's 100m freestyle final on Wednesday. Adrian won by a finger tip in a desperate lunge for the wall to deny Magnussen in 47.52sec with the Australian heart-broken to lose by the smallest possible margin. Adrian was ecstatic to beat the top-ranked Magnussen in the blue riband sprint race to leave the Australian men still searching for a gold medal in the pool at the Games after their medal-less 4x100m freestyle flop. "I have big hands, I guess," laughed Adrian after his gripping win. "I had to swim my race, it's difficult with a guy next to you who is coming home in low 24 (secs) next to you. The second 50 (metres) It was a crushing disappointment for Magnussen, who swam below his best as a member of the highly-rated Australian team that crashed out of the medals in Sunday's relay. "I did my best and it wasn't quite good enough," Magnussen said. "I have felt a bit disappointed in the last few days, it has been a tough Olympics. "It has made me stronger, it will make me a better swimmer and a better person. "When you lose by such a small margin, you look back and think 'what could I have done differently?', I have no regrets though." Canada's three-time Olympian Brent Hayden claimed bronze ahead of the Olympic 200m freestyle champion Yannick Agnel of France."(Beaten by) four hundredths of a second (for bronze), it's frustrating," Agnel said. "I'm pretty disappointed, especially since I thought I could do it. "I hope to finish on a high note with the 4x100m medley relay, we'll have fun and give it a go." Brazilian world record holder Cesar Cielo finished sixth.