What is your favorite memory.The most amazing race I ever saw was the 200 Breaststroke in the 1968 Olympics. The only gold medal won by a Mexican at the Games Was by Felipe Munoz. Every time he breathed the crowd screamed MEXICO, I have never experienced such passion for a swimming event,(I only saw it on T.V. I can't imagine what it was like in person.)
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The '84 men's 800 freestyle relay with Bruce Hayes anchoring against Michael Gross. I knew Bruce from growing up in San Antonio. He was several years younger than me, but he was one of the fastest 10-and-unders in the country.
The strange thing I remember about that race is how the commentators basically gave up on the U.S. after Gross caught up with and passed Hayes midway through the final leg. As I recall, they talked about how the long streak of relay wins for the U.S. was over, Gross was the greatest, blah, blah, blah. And then Hayes came back at the end and outtouched Gross.
Then, a while later (weeks, months, can't remember exactly), the network put together a highlights show about the Olympics, and needless to say this race was one of the highlights. But they changed the commentary! Once Gross passed Hayes, instead of the commentators (the same ones as on the original broadcast) saying that the U.S. was finally going to lose a relay, they said something to the effect of, "Don't give up on the U.S. just yet--Bruce Hayes is known for his strong finishes." And, when the U.S. did win, the commentators seemed prophetic. If you hadn't watched the live broadcast of the event, you'd never know that they changed the commentary.
In non-swimming Olympics events, Dave Wottle's 800 is one of my earliest Olympic memories. Bob Hayes' anchor leg in the men's 4x100 m. relay in 1964 is one I don't remember seeing live, but many people swear that might still be the fastest 100 meters ever run.
The '84 men's 800 freestyle relay with Bruce Hayes anchoring against Michael Gross. I knew Bruce from growing up in San Antonio. He was several years younger than me, but he was one of the fastest 10-and-unders in the country.
The strange thing I remember about that race is how the commentators basically gave up on the U.S. after Gross caught up with and passed Hayes midway through the final leg. As I recall, they talked about how the long streak of relay wins for the U.S. was over, Gross was the greatest, blah, blah, blah. And then Hayes came back at the end and outtouched Gross.
Then, a while later (weeks, months, can't remember exactly), the network put together a highlights show about the Olympics, and needless to say this race was one of the highlights. But they changed the commentary! Once Gross passed Hayes, instead of the commentators (the same ones as on the original broadcast) saying that the U.S. was finally going to lose a relay, they said something to the effect of, "Don't give up on the U.S. just yet--Bruce Hayes is known for his strong finishes." And, when the U.S. did win, the commentators seemed prophetic. If you hadn't watched the live broadcast of the event, you'd never know that they changed the commentary.
In non-swimming Olympics events, Dave Wottle's 800 is one of my earliest Olympic memories. Bob Hayes' anchor leg in the men's 4x100 m. relay in 1964 is one I don't remember seeing live, but many people swear that might still be the fastest 100 meters ever run.
