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Log inTHERE'S NO STOPPING HISTORY
THERE'S NO STOPPING HISTORY
by Outspoken on Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:02 am
THERE'S NO STOPPING HISTORY
Michael Phelps ties record with seventh goal; Ian Crocker just misses a medal
By MIKE LOWE
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
BEIJING — Ian Crocker will likely leave here with another Olympic medal. It just won’t be of the individual variety.
With a 100-meter butterfly win by one-hundreth of a second, Michael Phelps tied Mark Spitz for most gold medals in a single Olympics – seven – while Portland's Crocker missed out on a bronze medal by that same, seemingly unquantifiable margin.
With the crowd at the National Aquatics Center gasping and then screaming when the results were displayed on the scoreboard, Phelps won the race in an Olympic-record 50.58 seconds. Serbia's Milorad Cavic – who led until the very end – was second in 50.59.
"I had no idea," Phelps said. "I was starting to hurt a little bit with probably the last 10 meters. That was my last individual race, so I was just trying to finish as strong as I could.
"I'm happy and kind of at a loss for words."
Crocker finished with a time of 51.13 seconds, one-hundredth of a second behind Andrew Lauterstein of Australia, who took the bronze.
"That's our sport,'' Crocker said, showing no disappointment.
And, he said, there will be none.
"Yeah, I definitely feel I gave everything I had in the race this morning,'' he said. "After the prelim swim, I was like, 'Man I'll be lucky to make the final.' And I did that.
"To be close to getting a medal and not (get one) is disappointing, but at the same time, I don't feel there's much room for disappointment now.''
Swimming in Lane 6, next to Phelps, Crocker got out fast and was second at the 50-meter turn with a time of 23.70. Phelps, conversely, was seventh at the turn, in 24.04.
But Phelps quickly passed Crocker off his underwater kick, and zeroed in on Cavic, who had the best time in the event coming into the race. It was close, so very close, with a huge splash from Phelps at the end as both swimmers reached for the wall.
When Phelps won, the crowd erupted. Phelps pounded his fist in the water and let out a scream.
The Serbian delegation filed a protest, but conceded that Phelps won after reviewing the tape provided by FINA, swimming's governing body. USA Swimming spokesman Jamie Olson said the tape was slowed to one frame every 10-thousandth of a second to make sure Phelps actually touched first.
Asked if he was surprised that Phelps rallied, Crocker said not at all.
"If you're Phelps, it's not very difficult,'' he said. "If you're me, it's very difficult. His strength is coming back on the second 50. He's not going to get tired.''
As the swimmers waited for the results to become official, Phelps, Cavic, Lauterstein and Crocker gathered and spoke.
"I told him congratulations, which doesn't really cut it after his week,'' said Crocker. "What do you really say to that but shake your hand and shake your head and wonder, will anybody ever come close to that again. Probably not. Not in my lifetime.''
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=205033&ac=PHnws
The Associated Press
Michael Phelps ties record with seventh goal; Ian Crocker just misses a medal
By MIKE LOWE
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
BEIJING — Ian Crocker will likely leave here with another Olympic medal. It just won’t be of the individual variety.
With a 100-meter butterfly win by one-hundreth of a second, Michael Phelps tied Mark Spitz for most gold medals in a single Olympics – seven – while Portland's Crocker missed out on a bronze medal by that same, seemingly unquantifiable margin.
With the crowd at the National Aquatics Center gasping and then screaming when the results were displayed on the scoreboard, Phelps won the race in an Olympic-record 50.58 seconds. Serbia's Milorad Cavic – who led until the very end – was second in 50.59.
"I had no idea," Phelps said. "I was starting to hurt a little bit with probably the last 10 meters. That was my last individual race, so I was just trying to finish as strong as I could.
"I'm happy and kind of at a loss for words."
Crocker finished with a time of 51.13 seconds, one-hundredth of a second behind Andrew Lauterstein of Australia, who took the bronze.
"That's our sport,'' Crocker said, showing no disappointment.
And, he said, there will be none.
"Yeah, I definitely feel I gave everything I had in the race this morning,'' he said. "After the prelim swim, I was like, 'Man I'll be lucky to make the final.' And I did that.
"To be close to getting a medal and not (get one) is disappointing, but at the same time, I don't feel there's much room for disappointment now.''
Swimming in Lane 6, next to Phelps, Crocker got out fast and was second at the 50-meter turn with a time of 23.70. Phelps, conversely, was seventh at the turn, in 24.04.
But Phelps quickly passed Crocker off his underwater kick, and zeroed in on Cavic, who had the best time in the event coming into the race. It was close, so very close, with a huge splash from Phelps at the end as both swimmers reached for the wall.
When Phelps won, the crowd erupted. Phelps pounded his fist in the water and let out a scream.
The Serbian delegation filed a protest, but conceded that Phelps won after reviewing the tape provided by FINA, swimming's governing body. USA Swimming spokesman Jamie Olson said the tape was slowed to one frame every 10-thousandth of a second to make sure Phelps actually touched first.
Asked if he was surprised that Phelps rallied, Crocker said not at all.
"If you're Phelps, it's not very difficult,'' he said. "If you're me, it's very difficult. His strength is coming back on the second 50. He's not going to get tired.''
As the swimmers waited for the results to become official, Phelps, Cavic, Lauterstein and Crocker gathered and spoke.
"I told him congratulations, which doesn't really cut it after his week,'' said Crocker. "What do you really say to that but shake your hand and shake your head and wonder, will anybody ever come close to that again. Probably not. Not in my lifetime.''
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=205033&ac=PHnws
The Associated Press
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
