I just saw the best relay race ever

[janradder]

I cannot believe how incredible the men's 400 Meter Freestyle Relay was.  I don't think I've ever seen a swimmer come back from as far behind as as late in the race (only half a pool length to go) as that last American swimmer did.  The commentators had actually conceded the race to the French and said that now the Americans had to hold on just to get the silver.  And then Jason Lezak started to gain on the French swimmer.  At one point it looked like h was actually pulling himself out of the water with each stroke.  It was unbelievable.  He touched out the second place team by just 8 hundredths of a second.  I actually leapt into the air when they won.  In all the years I've watched swimming, I really have not seen a better race.

This, of course, keeps the hope alive for Michael Phelps that he may actually beat Mark Spitz' 1972 record of 7 gold medals in one game (and he's only two medals  away from setting the record for  most gold medals ever for one athlete).  I actually do hope he sets the record.  I have no idea what kind of person he is but I love the way he stands on the medal podium after he's one.  This is, I think, the eleventh time he's done it and each time, it looks like it's the first for him.  He looks so happy and excited.  Though I grew up idolizing Mark Spitz as a swimmer even though I was too young to ever see him swim, I'd be very happy to watch Michael Phelps break his record if someone's going to do it.

Comments

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

It was spectacular!

[janradder.livejournal.com]

I was!

[pierogi-queen.livejournal.com]

That relay ranks at the absolute top of any race I have ever seen. I'm so glad you saw it.

I was reading today that Mark Spitz wasn't invited to the Olympics to watch Phelps break his record. He'll have to watch on TV. He sounded pretty hurt by that - since he said all the other great swimmers had been invited. Now, as I watch the swimming events, that is in the back of my mind. He also said that if they had had the 50 free back when he was swimming, he would have won that too and would have had 8 medals. I believe he won all those medals at the Olympics in Germany when the ISraeli Olympic team was taken hostage by terrorists and later killed in the attempt to rescue them. That was in 1972.

Spitz also said that he thinks Phelps is very much like him. (although I think Phelps has a lot more joy in swimming than Spitz ever did. Mark Spitz was the product of a swimming obsessed, driven father and was raised to be an Olympic Champion. It ruined his personality - and who knows what else)

Anyway, Phelp's absolute and utter joy as Lezak touched the wall is going to be replayed over and over - like that poor ski jumper who used to crash at the start of every Wide World of Sports program. But, his celebratory whoops and yells were as exciting to watch as the race. (I notice Rowdy Gaines isn't mentioning that he was saying the US had no chance just 2 seconds before Lezak made that incredible sprint.

I also loved the commercials that the Black swimmer is in - when he remembers how his mother was the loudest in the stands and he could hear her still yelling GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Cullen GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Cullne GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Now who does that make you think of????

[janradder.livejournal.com]

In the profile they did on Michael Phelps, NBC showed his mother cheering at one of his meets -- she sounded like Mrs. Kiss also.

I had not realized that Mark Spitz wasn't invited to the Olympics. That seems really strange. He's said quite a few things about Phelps' drive to break his record including that in watching him train and seeing how focused he is, he has no doubt that he he can do it. He also mentioned today that he sees Phelps as a much more determined swimmer than he ever was in that Phelps goes after events that he isn't the best in and strives to be the best (like the the 200 free where he took bronze in 2004 -- Spitz called it Phelps' best race). Spitz said he never would have done that when he was swimming and it really impresses him that Michael Phelps does.

You're right about Rowdy not mentioning conceding the race to the French before it was over. In his defense, though, Lezak was nearly a full body length behind Bernard when he made that concession (with only half a pool length to go).

[pierogi-queen.livejournal.com]

I think his support of Phelps and then to be ignored by not being invited to be there is very hurtful to him. He even said that he would have liked to be the one to present Phelp's with the gold medal that breaks his record. (If you've noticed, the medal presenters are all "special" people, not just Olympic commitee employees). I just really feel sad for him.

Tonights races should be great - Just read about the American breaststroker who swam last night in the prelims - he has cancer (testicular) and will have surgery after the games are over. But, tonight, 4x200 free relay with Phelps - surely won't come close to the excitement of Sunday's race though.

Every time I watch a swimming event, I feel myself back watching you and Nikki swim - and remember your great swim in the States and how exciting it was to watch you . Mrs. Kiss was louder than I was - but we were both yelling GOOOOOOOOO JAAAAAANNNNNNNNN so loud you HAD to have heard us!

[janradder.livejournal.com]

That is really too bad to hear about Mark SPitz (I had noticed that some of the presenters are former Olympians). Maybe if Phelps does break his record, something will be done here in the States.

I can't imagine any race being as exciting as the 4x100 relay but I'm looking forward to tonight's races. It'll be interesting to see how he holds up as the week progresses as well as tonight when he's swimming in two finals.

(I did hear Mrs. Kiss when I was swimming -- everyone did, whether they were in the water or not. It would have been impossible not to, she was so loud)