2008 Olympics: The Amazing Race

Last night, I watched the greatest Olympic relay race in history; the 2008 Olympics men's 4 X 100 ('400') meter relay final. It is one sports event that is actually worthy of the inevitable storm of media praise that is coming it's way.

It was a race in which the 'good guys,' the Americans beat their antagonists, the 'bad guys,' the French. It was a race in which the underdogs were able to make a miraculous comeback at the very end to beat the favorites. It was a race in which Sweden's time of 3:11.92 would have broke the world record and brought them some measure of glory except four other teams finished ahead of them. Although, in the words of the French, records are being "smashed" as swimmers have more buoyancy than before due the body suits (instead of speedos) they are now allowed to wear.

After the Americans just squeezed out the victory by a fingertip, their celebratory burst of emotions was the perfect culmination events. The likes of the Americans joyous emotions has not been seen since the great gladiators, Veras and Priscus celebrated after the most historic battle in Roman Colosseum history.

The build-up: French swimmer's rhetoric degrades the American swimmers

Star French relay team swim anchor Alain Bernard told a French reporter,

“The Americans? We will smash them. That's what we came here for.”

It was the stupidest thing a French athlete has said or done since Zinedine Yazid Zidane head-butted Marco Materazzi in a French loss to Italy in the 2006 World Cup Final.

The American swimmers did not publicly use Bernard's statement as motivation. However, the Americans knew they had a chance to beat the French and undoubtedly they were motivated by Bernard calling them out.

"We didn't react to it...It just got us fired up," Phelps said

'Cool pool party, It was a cool pool party'


After jumping in and out of the water, as part of his routine, Michael Phelps flailed his arms from his chest to his back. He looked as loose as fish; something that would explain his swimming prowess.

By traditional logic, Phelps would be the anchor for the USA team as he is the best swimmer on the planet, let alone his team. But Jason Lezak, 32 has historically excelled as the anchor and Phelps loves the challenge of getting the USA team off to a great start.


Phelps, who is trying to set the record of eight gold medals at one Olympics games and break Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals and win a million dollar bonus from Speedo, did not disappoint. His split of 47.51 on his 100 meter leg was just behind Australian, Eamon Sullivan's world record time of 47. 24 (The first split of a relay is the only split that is officially eligible for world record status).


But the Americans were undeterred as their second swimmer, Garret Weber-Gale's split of 47.02 (faster thatn Sullivan's world record) gave the American's the lead, by about half a meter.

On the third leg, Cullen Jones swam a more mortal 47.65. France's Frederick Bousquet's split of 46.63 (the fastest split in history to that point) gave the French the a half second lead going into the last leg (100 meters).

Anchor Jason Lezak was on the only two American 400 m relay teams that did not win the gold medal in 2000 and 2004. That seemed to motivate him more than the Bernard's comments ever could. His own intestinal drive for redemption had him pumped up. Before the race started, Lezak told his teammates in no uncertain terms that his vision was for the Americans to return to the top of the medal podium.

Lezak entered the water, .59 seconds behind Alain Berndard, who's specialty is the 100 m and he is the favorite to win the gold in the 100 m individual race. He trailed that same Bernard who smugly stated their goal was to smash the Americans. And for all the American vitriol against Bernard, it should not be stated that he did not come prepared to back-up his words. Bernard's split of 46.73 was the third fastest in history (and in the race).


So it would take the fastest split in history to beat the French. The announcers certainly did not think that Lezak was going to do it. As Lezak hit the water, their conversation turned to what the Americans would have to do to hold off the Australians and win the silver.

Following the turn off the wall, with about 40 meters left, Lezak was making up ground. With about 20 meters left it was a race, but it was still a huge hope for Lezak to beat Bernard. But with each stroke the excitement pulsated through the crowd.

With about 10 meters to go, Lezak would need the biggest and fastest strokes of his life to make to close the inches between Bernard and himself. Lezak was in a zone and Michael Phelps cheer leading matched Lezak's intensity. Phelps bellowed for Lezak, reminscient of how Pop Fisher, the New York Knights manager in the movie, 'The Natural' bellowing for his player (John Olsen) to run and beat out a throw to first base after a hard grounder to the third baseman.

Fisher yelled, "Run you bastard!" Phelps affectionate sentiment to Lezak was along the lines of, 'swim you bastard.' For just as Olsen looked like he would be out, so did Lezak look to be squeezed out by Bernard.

Lezak hit the wall in perfect stride while Bernard found himself lunging for the wall. That would be the difference. It was a fingertip's difference.

Phelps and Weber-Gale looked at the clock. Lezak had done it! Their world record time of 3:08.24 had beat the French by eight hundredths of a second. And it was Lezak who did the "smash(ing)." His split of 46.06 smashed the next fastest split of 46.63 by Bousquet.

The French team looked at the clock. They were stunned. Only seconds before that they could see themselves on the Olympic podium with gold medals around their necks. As Bernard's abnormally huge lungs expanded so far it made his back pulsate, he could only hang his head down onto the cement starting block in front of him.

Meanwhile, the Americans were ecstatic with joy. In particular, Phelps and Weber-Gale howled with joy. Their joy would personify the face of American Olympics forever.

In the post-race interview Phelps cited his ballistic cheer leading as having roots in Lezak's philosophy that it was not a 4 X 100 race with four separate "contractor" swimmers, but rather 400 meter team event.


For so long we have waited for another Dream Team to come along and now it has happened; just not how we expected it.


Click here to view the race.

All 2008 Olympics Shots Heard Coverage

2008 Olympics: Opening Ceremony goes well and with a hitch
2008 Olympics: The Amazing Race
2008 Olympics: The Amazing Finish
2008 Olympics: NBC's dirty pool
2008 Olympics: Lucky Eight for Phelps
2008 Olympics: Down goes Franco! Down goes Franco!
2008 Olympics: Usain Bolt - A bolt of lightning or steroids in a syringe?
2008 Olympics: Final Thoughts