OT: USA wins Mens 4X100 Freestyle Relay - Greatest Olympic Moment Ever?
by Chadnudj on Aug 11, 2008 8:47 AM CDT
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PrintI just wanted to post this in case people went to bed after the Cubs won last night and missed arguably the greatest Olympics moment I've ever seen.
Last night, in the Men's 4X100 Freestyle Relay, the USA men beat France by 0.08 seconds (yes, 8 one-hundredths of a second) in world record time, as Jason Lezak stalked down 100 freestyle record holder Alain Bernard of France in the last 50 meters to complete an amazing come from behind win. And all this after Bernard allegedly said the French were going to "smash" the Americans in the race.
You've all probably seen the pictures of Phelps' primal scream after the U.S. won, but you REALLY need to see this race. Find it on video. Now.
To give you an idea of how fast this race was, it smashed the previous world record (set the day before by the Americans) by FOUR seconds (an eternity in swimming). In fact, the FIFTH place Swedish team beat the previous World Record in the race, and didn't even MEDAL.
USA! USA! USA!
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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Watched it.....
Right before I fell asleep….what and amazing moment indeed!!
All things great in 2008!!
by By Santo's Grace on Aug 11, 2008 8:54 AM CDT reply actions
Its was a great performance...
however, it was no where near the greatest Olympic moment ever. I can think of 10 Olympic moments that compared to this one.
The greatest Olympic moment ever is unquestionably Jesse Owens beating the Nazi’s in 1936.
No doubt...
...Jesse Owens was impressive, but as far as one event, one race, one competition, I don’t think anything compares with that race.
1) It was close – 8 one-hundredths of a second close.
2) It was come-from-behind, with Lezak stalking down the WORLD RECORD HOLDER in the 100 meter freestyle in the last 50 meters (even last 25 meters) to win.
3) It was a grudge match, after France’s Bernard (the guy who Lezak beat) said that the French would “smash” the USA team.
4) It was in world record time - and not just any world record time. It OBLITERATED the previous world record by 4 seconds. The race was so fast, the FIFTH PLACE team (Sweden) broke the previous world record and didn’t even medal.
5) It was live (at least everywhere but on the west coast).
And finally…
6) The stakes were huge - not only for the USA Team as a whole, but in particular for Michael Phelps as he went for the 8 gold medals. If Phelps gets 8 golds, this race goes through the roof in terms of greatest moments.
As a former competetive swimmer...
in HS and part of college, I thought it was the best swimming event I’ve ever seen, but it was nothing compared to watching the 1992 games and seeing a German diver do a full bellyflop from the 3m springboard. Absolutely classic.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
This the one?
I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com
by digitalbenjamin on Aug 11, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
I could watch those all day
Talk about pain, though. I flopped in like that from the edge of the pool once and thought I’d been skinned alive.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
No
I get that there is a desire to proclaim “Best ever” for something you saw 15 minutes ago…but respect for history is nice.
No particular order…
1) Jesse Owens shows the Nazis just how stupid they are.
2) Mark Spitz’ seventh win - the 4×100 relay. Until Phelps puts on 8, Spitz still gets the moment. By the way, all of his golds were World Records.
3) Nadia Comenichi hits the perfect 10s
4) Mary Lou Retton in 1984
5) The Hungarians beating up the Russians in Water Polo in 1956, just weeks after Russia invaded Hungary. (The “Blood in the Water” game - That is a real grudge match, not some French dude trash-talking)
6) Kerri Strug in 1996. Enough said.
7) Miracle on Ice. Duh. (You said Olympic, not just Summer)
8) First Dream Team
9) Bruce Jenner wins Decathlon
10) Bob Beamon damn near jumps off the edge of the planet in 1968.
11) The British guy who rips his hammy and STILL FINISHES THE RACE!
12) Japanese gymnast in 1964. Does the rings dismount, WITH A FREAKING BROKEN LEG
That’s off the top of my head. Respect your history.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
Fair enough...
...I gotta consider giving you at least the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
Then again, that was a semi-final game, and while a huge upset, didn’t have that “buzzer beater” esque finish this one had.
As for the other events, all of those are clearly great Olympic moments (and perhaps this is where my topic is off, in terms of how I described it), but they weren’t quite as indelible as ONE race or ONE finish.
For example, all the gymnastics events cited were impressive and indisputably incredible, but none of them really had that “finish” to it that a race has. And I think it’s difficult to compare a subjectively scored sport to one where you race against the pure clock. Both are definitely sports, but its difficult to compare them in terms of the thrill of the in-the-moment competition itself.
I guess as far as “one race” goes, I can’t think of a single head-to-head competition as good as this was one, from beginning to incredibly close finish, with world record performance included, etc.
And it will mean nothing
if he loses ones of the next 6 races.
Let it play out.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
Fair enough....
...that’s a good point. This race only becomes “incredible” if Phelps goes 6-for-6 from here on out.
Still, with his pursuit of “8 for 8” on the line, pretty big stakes and an incredible race.
These first two
events were to be his most difficult and now they are out of the way. The momentum from yesterdays race should keep him going strong.
Good luck Shawn Johnson, Lolo Jones and Doug Schwab. Bring home the gold!!!
You could very well be right...
And if you are, we certainly have to reevaluate. I’m just not a fan of instant “best ever” statements.
Last night’s race does go into the mix. And I’ve been thinking about Chadnudj’s parameters - single race, pure competition, best finish, etc… - and it is tough to top.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
I normally agree...
...on the idea of rushing to dub something “best ever”, but as Dan Shanoff repeatedly notes, the internet was BUILT for instant-superlative analysis.
That analysis is frequently proven wrong by time and history and careful thought, but part of the fun (at times) is the Internet’s ability to be a filter of “instant history.”
How stupid they are?
You might think that they had horrible policies and where a terrible repressive and genocidal group, because those things are true, and I doubt anyone would argue with that. The Nazi’s were horrible, no doubt. But seeing as they had some of the best scientists in history in their regime, I wouldn’t call them stupid.
by sackings108 on Aug 11, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Let's end this portion of the thread right here.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Wow
I can’t believe I just read that.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
I know.
Al, you are just killing me. But, I can understand you not wanting it to go off the rails…
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
I meant to say...
I can’t believe that I just read the sackings108 comment, not Al’s comment.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Whew!
Had me worried there for a moment.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I actually agree with you DaBard
Those moments were all better than the U.S. beating the French in a swimming event. It was a very good moment, but there have been many others that have been more poignant and impressive in the history of the olympics.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
An awesome race...
..even the announcers had the US penciled in for the silver after that final turn.
The one that still gets to me is Derek Redmond
being helped to the finish line by his father after tearing his hamstring
This was one of
the greatest races I’ve seen. The looks on the French team’s faces after was priceless. When it looked like the USA had no chance at all to finish first and then for Jason to swim like he did to win it is spectacular.
Good luck Shawn Johnson, Lolo Jones and Doug Schwab. Bring home the gold!!!
i don't know much about swimming
so when i heard that the french were trash talking prior to the race and that they were destined to win, i assumed the usa would be happy with the silver….but i figured might as well watch anyway
by the end of the race i found myself SCREAMING for swimming of all things….it was pretty cool
Definitely cool,
One of those high five’s all around moment for sure.
watched this again this AM online...
gave me shivers. awesome. USA! USA!
I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com
by digitalbenjamin on Aug 11, 2008 10:22 AM CDT reply actions
I recorded it and
have watched it over and over. Michael and Garret’s reactions were the best. I didn’t see this until I watched it again this morning but in the left hand corner you can see Cullen’s reaction too. He’s trying to get back to his team and you see him jump in the air. Just an awesome race.
Good luck Shawn Johnson, Lolo Jones and Doug Schwab. Bring home the gold!!!
Greatest. Olympic. Moment. Ever.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 11, 2008 10:34 AM CDT reply actions
You are fired...
FIRED!
LMFAO… The only thing that would make this better is Ron Cey standing on the podium.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
This one is up there too
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
Also one of the best Presidential moments
Woudn’t you say? At least it was for George….
by Shanghai Badger on Aug 11, 2008 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Not a political statement
Just saying he was having a good day.
by Shanghai Badger on Aug 11, 2008 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Also not political...
But if someone greeted my daughter like this after she left a playing field, I might check the sex offender registry
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
That is a wonderful list
I didn’t know about a lot of them, specifically the U.S. women beating the East Germans in 1976. Considering the East German women basically got turned into men from all the steroids they were taking, that is amazing.
The 1984 Americans and the 2000 Australians were great too, also in swimming relays.
And then there was Rulon Gardner. I have to admit… I was rooting for the Russian in that one. He was quite simply the most fearsome athlete I’ve ever seen.
Pluto will always be a planet to me!
Covering up the stars and stripes aside...
which should really never be done, even in fun. I like the “W” flag and even more if its seen in late October, but no flag is of greater importance to this country than the stars and stripes. However, I do understand it was meant jokingly.
The rest of that pic is the aftermath of the greatest olympic moment ever. 2/24/80, the US defeats Finland in the gold medal game 4-2 to finish the tournament 6-0-1 and only two days after the “miracle on ice”, 2/22/80 defeating the then Soviet Union 4-3.
Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.
Thanks for taking it easy on me blackhawk....
it’s all in jest…and you’re completely right about the stars and stripes being a sacred symbol of this nation. At least for those of us who actually like America, in spite of it’s imperfections this is the greatest county in the world…IMHO.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 11, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Not just in your opinion SWL
Check out what French President Sarkozy thinks:
“To the millions of men and women who came from every country of the world and who - with their own hands, their intelligence, and their hearts - built the greatest nation in the world, America did not say, ‘Come, and everything will be given to you.’ Rather, she said, ‘Come, and the only limits to what you will be able to achieve will be those of your own courage, your boldness, and your talent.’...in America, failure is never the last word. There is always another chance. Here - in your country, on this soil - both the humblest and the most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that everything has to be earned. That is what constitutes the moral value of America.”
At least one Frenchman has it right…
"Why does that man drop his club before he runs? I would bring it with me." ~Stewie Griffin
If only more of our own citizens would start thinking this way....
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 11, 2008 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions
They will...
I, like the man throwing the pitch in my avatar, have faith in them.
"Why does that man drop his club before he runs? I would bring it with me." ~Stewie Griffin
Every olympic games
produces something that is awesome.
Last night was incredible, to have our team down with 20 meters to go and going against the world record holder in the free style and to have lezak chase him down with what ever he had left in the tank is a great achievement and should be placed up there with some of the all time great individual efforts, even though it was a relay.
Swimming is a very very difficult sport and its truely hard to appreciate what they go through. My brother used to swim on summer teams and there was no way i could gut it out.
It was a geat olympic moment for the US and hopefully gets its due although it may not be in a sport many appreciate
Let go cubs
A Cubs W
paired w/ a bunch of USA W’s, Awesome. I, for one, found myself screaming at the end, that was one of the most remarkable comebacks I’ve ever seen. And I loved the show of emotion by Phelps and the rest of the team. I also liked that commercial of Cullen thanking his mom for being his biggest supporter over the years. But my favorite commercial so far is the Morgan Freeman narrated of Derek Redmond’s race from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. I was only 7 at the time, but I still remember like it was yesterday.
Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.
Am I the only one on the planet who didn't know Bob Costas wears a toupee???
I spit up morning cereal through my nose the other day when that pompous overly-wordy product of St. Louis was reporting outside of Tiammenon Square and his hair was on crooked !! I had no idea that was a hairpiece before now !!
muhamed ali
has to be considered in the top 10 somewhere
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." --Alvin Dark
by preachermancubsfan on Aug 11, 2008 5:43 PM CDT reply actions
I'm going to
recommend this so we have some where to talk about the Olympics. If others want a place to talk about the Olympics you can recommend it too.
Good luck Shawn Johnson, Lolo Jones and Doug Schwab. Bring home the gold!!!
2000 4x100 freestyle relay
The 4×100 relay from yesterday was incredible, there’s no doubt about it. Lezak turned in an ridiculous swim, it was so good it still seems like it didn’t happen. I’m still partial, however, to the same relay event from the 2000 olympics. The US had never been beaten in this event up until that point and Gary Hall Jr. said they would smash the aussies like guitars. The fact that the race was in Australia, and the aussies won in a very dramatic fashion puts it just a little higher than this years final.
Here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQQt0eTknxY&feature=related
The commentators were world class too.
I enjoyed starting the day
turning on Sportscenter before my morning shower and seeing the replay. Excellent finish.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
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