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Log inPhelps faces final hurdle in record bid
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Phelps faces final hurdle in record bid
by Outspoken on Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:27 pm
Phelps faces final hurdle in record bid
by Julian Guyer
AFP News Service
BEIJING (AFP) - Swimming star Michael Phelps confronts the last obstacle in the way of an astounding sporting feat when he goes for his eighth gold of the Beijing Olympics in the 4x100 metres medley relay on Sunday.
Already the most successful winner in terms of gold medals the Olympics has ever seen, with a career-haul of 13 to his name, yet another victory for Phelps at the Water Cube would see him take sole possession of the record for the most titles won at a single Games.
Phelps tied fellow US pool legend Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record of seven golds at the one Olympics in spectacular fashion Saturday.
He won the 100m butterfly by just one-hundredth of a second, the smallest possible margin, from Milorad Cavic and then had to wait on a protest by the beaten Serb's federation the race ought to be declared a dead heat.
Few would dispute Phelps's phenomenal ability but it was only a remarkable last leg by Jason Lezak in the 4x100m freestyle relay which prevented his bid for the 'great eight' falling at the second hurdle after the veteran came from behind to ensure victory over France.
So far everything has gone Phelps's way and rival teams may be dispirited rather than heartened by the knowledge a botched relay change by Ian Crocker cost Phelps the chance of winning eight golds at the 2007 world championships because, surely, the Americans won't make the same mistake twice?
"Unfortunately, I remember last year," said Crocker as he recalled his moment of madness in Melbourne. "It's hard to forget about that.
"After this week, all that Phelps has done, you don't want to be the guy who stood in his way, do something stupid.
"I want him to have every shot at doing it."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080817/ts_afp/oly2008opener_080817004111;_ylt=ArdPkxP3qHxFC3cCYz13mPWs0NUE
(Jerry Lampen/Reuters)
by Julian Guyer
AFP News Service
BEIJING (AFP) - Swimming star Michael Phelps confronts the last obstacle in the way of an astounding sporting feat when he goes for his eighth gold of the Beijing Olympics in the 4x100 metres medley relay on Sunday.
Already the most successful winner in terms of gold medals the Olympics has ever seen, with a career-haul of 13 to his name, yet another victory for Phelps at the Water Cube would see him take sole possession of the record for the most titles won at a single Games.
Phelps tied fellow US pool legend Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record of seven golds at the one Olympics in spectacular fashion Saturday.
He won the 100m butterfly by just one-hundredth of a second, the smallest possible margin, from Milorad Cavic and then had to wait on a protest by the beaten Serb's federation the race ought to be declared a dead heat.
Few would dispute Phelps's phenomenal ability but it was only a remarkable last leg by Jason Lezak in the 4x100m freestyle relay which prevented his bid for the 'great eight' falling at the second hurdle after the veteran came from behind to ensure victory over France.
So far everything has gone Phelps's way and rival teams may be dispirited rather than heartened by the knowledge a botched relay change by Ian Crocker cost Phelps the chance of winning eight golds at the 2007 world championships because, surely, the Americans won't make the same mistake twice?
"Unfortunately, I remember last year," said Crocker as he recalled his moment of madness in Melbourne. "It's hard to forget about that.
"After this week, all that Phelps has done, you don't want to be the guy who stood in his way, do something stupid.
"I want him to have every shot at doing it."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080817/ts_afp/oly2008opener_080817004111;_ylt=ArdPkxP3qHxFC3cCYz13mPWs0NUE
(Jerry Lampen/Reuters)
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
