Regarding the 4X100 relay, lots more went down with that race, than just the world record in the relay:
Phelps swam the lead-off leg for the Americans. He swam 47.51. The world record, going into the race: 47.50, by France's Alain Bernard, lining up Sunday to swim the French anchor leg in the relay.
Phelps and the Americans swam Sunday in Lane 4, the French in 5, the Australians in 3.
To Phelps' left, in Lane 3, Eamon Sullivan of Australia pulled lead-off duty as well. He touched ahead of Phelps, in 47.24 -- a world record in the 100m (lead-off legs are eligible for national and world records).
Phelps' mark is now the American record. His prior personal best had been 47.92, at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
The fastest Olympic lead-off split before Sunday: South Africa's Roland Schoeman, with a 48.17 in 2004.
If swimming translates into numbers, it also is about so much more.
From here: NBCOlympics.com - Lezak's classic finish delivers gold
Great read, and still gets me going. I was yelling at the TV last night, and thought Lampley was gonna lose it on the air. He's used to golf broadcasts and boxing.
Also, see here:
NBCOlympics.com - 4x100m free relay: By the numbers
Simply an awesome race, and one that will be hard to top. But it sucked me into watching the olympics for the next 2 weeks. What will I miss if I don't? Shawn Johnson's next performance is sure to be memorable, and the "Redeem Team" will be making mincemeat of the competition, after the world questioned the US basketball teams honor after the last olympics.
Phelps swam the lead-off leg for the Americans. He swam 47.51. The world record, going into the race: 47.50, by France's Alain Bernard, lining up Sunday to swim the French anchor leg in the relay.
Phelps and the Americans swam Sunday in Lane 4, the French in 5, the Australians in 3.
To Phelps' left, in Lane 3, Eamon Sullivan of Australia pulled lead-off duty as well. He touched ahead of Phelps, in 47.24 -- a world record in the 100m (lead-off legs are eligible for national and world records).
Phelps' mark is now the American record. His prior personal best had been 47.92, at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
The fastest Olympic lead-off split before Sunday: South Africa's Roland Schoeman, with a 48.17 in 2004.
If swimming translates into numbers, it also is about so much more.
Great read, and still gets me going. I was yelling at the TV last night, and thought Lampley was gonna lose it on the air. He's used to golf broadcasts and boxing.
Also, see here:
NBCOlympics.com - 4x100m free relay: By the numbers
Simply an awesome race, and one that will be hard to top. But it sucked me into watching the olympics for the next 2 weeks. What will I miss if I don't? Shawn Johnson's next performance is sure to be memorable, and the "Redeem Team" will be making mincemeat of the competition, after the world questioned the US basketball teams honor after the last olympics.