Ian Thorpe wins the 200 free. Hoogie, the flying dutchmen, is second and Phelps is a close third in a new American record. Keller is fourth just ahead of Grant Hackett.
First, congratulations to Ian Thorpe. Many questioned whether he was ready to win this race, including moi. My hats off to the Australian great for showing up in very big race.
Second, Hoogie swam well. If he had better turns then he'd be champion. He should be considered the favorite in the 100.
Third, caps off to Phelps. Yes, this is the "deflationary" moment dreaded by all who saw Biondi branded a "failure" when his Spitzian quest was made mathematically impossible.
I now think that things will really turn around for the US at this meet. Peirsol has just won the 100 back and I believe tomorrow will be big day for the USA.
I see an upset and new world record in the 800 free relay as a real possiblity. I also think that Phelps will lower his world record in the 200 fly tomorrow.
Editor's Note: PLEASE identify all threads as spoilers if you are posting prior to the showing of an event on NBC!!
Former Member
so much for waiting too see this on tv-guess i need to stay off this board for the week also-crap!
Former Member
Hey, I for one am happy that it is over with the Spitz medel run. I rather watch all the swimmers strive for their best --the field is so tight in terms of talent --or should I wait till the drug test come back before making that statement?
Not accusing anyone here...
Ali
Former Member
It did say ***SPOILER***on the thread heading. :)
I think the pressure is off of Phelps now. The million dollar Speedo bonus probably added to it all as well. But at the end of the day his time was pretty amazing considering this isn't considered one of his trademark events.
That's why I like Bob Costas as a sportscaster. In the same comment that Spitz's 7 golds as being out of reach (but Phelps still having a chance at 8 total medals), he pointed out that both of Phelps' individual swims have been lifetime bests.
Any reporter who uses "disappointing" and Phelps in the same sentence, should be made to swim the 200 fly and the 400 IM. :D
Former Member
FAILURE!!! Phelps' dreams are CRUSHED, I tell you.
What a loser, having to settle for a NEW AMERICAN RECORD!
(Just kidding, of course.)
Know what? If he comes home with, say, 4 golds, 2 silvers and two bronzes, will that really be such an awful haul from the 2004 olympics? After all, he can pick up another 8 in 2008.
I have to tip my hat to Peter VdH. He has touched out Americans for silvers twice now. He'll probably win the 100 free too. Did you see his split in the 4x100?
Former Member
Hoogie split a 22.25 on the 50 and went 46.79 for his 100 meter relay leg. That's incredibly fast.
Former Member
hey, Phelps is 19 years old-he's got at least one more Olympics in him and who knows how much better he will get. I'm with Alicat-I am LOVING these games! The races are fun to watch even if I already know the outcome because of the amazing performances.
I got it on the radio on the way home today with NO SPOILER ALERT! :mad: Do you think because the radio station was owned by ABC instead of NBC that they deliberately spoiled my fun?
Our media sure seems to have a warped sense of success and failure:
Phelps at 19 years of age – 2 Olympic individual final, 2 American Records (1 World Record), 2 personal bests, 2 Olympic medals. This is a world class success in my book.
I wonder how many members of the media, reporting on this failure, have won Pulitzer’s for their first 2 published articles.
Former Member
I think it's funny how everyone things that Phelps went there strictly to beat Spitz's record. Didn't you hear him before the Olympics and after he swam the 200? When they talked to him he said he only went there to win ONE and he did that. All this hype of Spitz's record is everyone else, not Phelps. He's just an amazing swimmer and it's in the back of his head I'm sure but that's not his goal in the Olympics.
Former Member
The media has obvioulsy hyped the Spitz thing and I think we all realize that. Our local media in Athens last night kept talking about how poorly Phelps is swimming. Give me a break!
