It was past my bedtime. Way past. I knew I wouldn't be worth anything, but I was determined to stay up and watch it anyway.
It was Michael Phelps' next step in his quest for 8 gold medals in a single Olympics. It was also the race he wasn't expected to win. It was the men's 4 X 100 freestyle relay. The French were heavily favored to win the gold. Going into the final leg of the race, it appeared that they would do just that. They held a substantial lead. Everyone expected them to win. So much so that nobody was even looking at them. The focus was on the battle for silver between the Americans and the Australians. For a while, it looked like the Australians would prevail and the American team would have to settle for a bronze.
But then, something happened to the American Anchor. Perhaps he didn't want to be the one to let his team mate Michael Phelps down. Perhaps he remembered the trash talking French Anchor Alain Bernard had done when he said that they would "smash the Americans".
Whatever the reason, something seemed to snap in his mind. Whatever his motivation, he decided that he was tired of losing. Like flipping a switch, he really began to pour it on. Slowly, inch by inch, he began to creep up on the French swimmer Bernard. Reaching, stretching, the water churning behind them in the fury of their swimming, their fingers seemed to touch the wall simultaneously.
Indeed, when the times were posted, they were only separated by eight one hundredths of a second. Eight one hundredths of a second. Dudes, it takes longer than that to blink. The question remained, who had won? Which team had swam .08 seconds faster than the other?
Both both teams turned to look at the clock. Both teams stood in breathless anticipation until the results were posted. And when the results did come up, both teams stood silent for a heartbeat until their minds could process what they were seeing. One team collapsed into stunned silence. It was one of those moments when your mind just can't seem to accept reality. They'd lost. They just stood there for a moment, Alain Bernard not even leaving the pool as if somehow hoping that by staying in the water, he could change the results, and they would come away with a victory. At one point, he even appeared to weep.
The Americans also stood there a moment, stunned in silent disbelief, then erupting into jubilation. They'd won! They'd done it! In less time than it takes to blink an eye, they'd silenced the trash talking French. The cheers, the whoops, the jubilation was like none I'd ever seen from the normally unflappable Phelps. The cheers, the whoops, the jubilation no doubt echoed in thousands of living rooms across the country.
Even throughout the victory, most of the media attention was on Michael Phelps and his quest for gold. That is to be expected. He is probably the greatest swimmer the U.S. has ever known, maybe even the world. He'll continue to get the spotlight. But last night, for one brief, but oh so bright moment, it was Jason Lezak who was America's Hero.
That friends, is what the Olympics are all about.
6 comments:
What a great "Olympic moment!"
It was a fabulous race. I have no idea how Lezak managed to pull it off, but wow!
Maybe it had something to do with the translation. Maybe in French the word smash means to just not have enough of what it takes to beat the Americans.
You're right, Becky. That race was one for the ages. While it wasn't quite a "1980 Lake Placid moment," it was pretty danged close. And that race might just be the American highlight of these games.
The bassetball was pretty good, too.
I was watching it too, and it was amazing! I think the fact that it was by that fraction of a second, it was a true team effort (although no question that Lezak, it was said, had the best race of his career in that moment), and the fact that the whole race for ALL the teams was done 4 seconds faster than the world record time? AMAZING. While not the 1980 Lake Placid moment, as Buck said, it certainly ranks up there, for sure!
I dunno. In my mind, it gives the 1980 Miracle Moment a run for its money. I was so pumped after the race that it took me until nearly midnight to fall asleep.
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