American Adrian fastest in 100 freestyle heats

American Nathan Adrian was fastest in the opening heats of the men's 100m freestyle, with world champion James Magnussen not far behind in fourth spot on Tuesday. Adrian, the third-ranked swimmer in the event, clocked 48.19sec to win his sixth heat and head the top-16 into the semi-finals of the event later Tuesday. "It felt good to be that easy in the first 50 and to have a little bit to come home," Adrian said. Magnussen, who disappointed in Australia's medal-less freestyle relay on Sunday, put in a 48.38sec swim, slow by his standards, but fourth overall behind South African Gideon Louw (48.29) and Dutchman Sebastiaan Verschuren (48.37). "I am still trying to recover from the relay a bit," Magnussen said. "The relay is motivation, but more than anything I want to put it out of my memory. It was one my first failures since breaking into the international scene. "It has been a tough couple of days. It is quite an open field in the 100m, if I can get myself back to the sort of form I had at the trials, I have a good chance of winning it." Brazilian Cesar Cielo, who holds the world record at 46.91secs, was equal 10th-fastest with 48.67sec, ahead of Australia's second-ranked James Roberts and Frenchman Yannick Agnel, both in 12th place on 48.93sec. "It felt a little heavy, actually," Cielo said. "The very first swim is tough. I was expecting to swim the final of the relay, so it didn't feel good. Polonium is a highly toxic substance which is rarely found outside military and scientific circles, and was used to kill former Russian spy turned Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 shortly after drinking tea laced with the poison. Suha Arafat has said she backs exhuming her late husband's remains from his mausoleum in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Arafat, who led the struggle for Palestinian statehood for nearly four decades, died in a French military hospital after being airlifted there for treatment from his Ramallah headquarters. At the time of his death, Palestinian officials alleged he had been poisoned by long-time foe Israel, but an inconclusive Palestinian investigation in 2005 ruled out poisoning, as well as cancer and AIDS. Israel has consistently denied the allegations, accusing Suha Arafat and Palestinian officials of covering up the real reasons for the former leader's death.