Frenchman fires up U.S. relay team

[BlackMamba]

i don't like trash talking at all, but if you have the courage to talk it you better back it up.

[Whiteman]

Who you got for the Men 100m Free Final?

My Final Includes:

lane 1- Fabien Gilot (FRA)
lane 2- Garrett Weber-Gale (USA)
lane 3- Edmon Sulivan (AUS)
lane 4- Alian Bernard (FRA)
lane 5- Jason Lezack (USA)
lane 6- Pieter Van Den Hoogenband (NET)
lane 7- Brent Hayden (CAN)
lane 8- Magnini Filippo (ITA)

Cielo Filho (BRA) had 47.91 as a starter in the 4x100, so he'll probably get in. Stefan Nystrand (SWE) has already broken the 48 second barrier so he might make it as well, although his 48.31 in the relay was a bit disappointing.

Weird that Bousquet (FRA) isn't starting, his splits in the relay were amazing.

It's incredible how for 7 years nobody was able to get under 48 seconds except Van Den Hoogenband - and suddenly 9 other swimmers do it in less than a year. The new suits are definitely a factor, but is there similar improvement in any other event?

[Blame Rasho]

It was impressive how the US came back and got the gold.

[tkunit]

I was standing at the end of that race. What a last lap by the American. The french were all like soc de blue or whatever it is they say.

[Texas Longhorns]

Blame Rasho for the french losing.

[The Duke]

Ya ridiculus how much the times have come down. They have come down relatively significantly in the backstroke and the freestyle, along with the Individual Medleys, and a bit in the Breast and the Fly. Main reason is in the Fly and Breast stroke, you come out of the water, and re-enter on each stroke, that "hinders" the streamlining a bit.... whereas in the freestyle and backstroke, you try to be streamline the entire length of the pool.

I dunno what to say about the drastic drop in times by soooo much... I understand the suits have helped reduce drag, but not by THIS much.... the rest of the drop in times have been due to the increasing use of technology to make u a better swimming in training techniques IMO

[eyeatoma]

french were all like soc de blue

Sacre Bleu...

Soc de Blue wtf lol...

[Dutch]

Probably the only non US guy in this thread.....
Phelps should thank Jason Lezack bigtime cause he is the real reason the US won. Not Phelps.

I know Phelps is a great swimmer but the thing I hate about sports like these (were you can win a ton of medals) is that it is so much easier to become a legend while people who win for example three straight times at judo might actually be better or more dominating.

[Texas Longhorns]

Probably the only non US guy in this thread.....
Phelps should thank Jason Lezack bigtime cause he is the real reason the US won. Not Phelps.

I know Phelps is a great swimmer but the thing I hate about sports like these (were you can win a ton of medals) is that it is so much easier to become a legend while people who win for example three straight times at judo might actually be better or more dominating.

They also didn't almost lose because of Phelps, he had the lead in the beginning. I'm pretty sure he thanked him, but it wasn't even him that got them behind.

[The Duke]

Probably the only non US guy in this thread.....
Phelps should thank Jason Lezack bigtime cause he is the real reason the US won. Not Phelps.

I know Phelps is a great swimmer but the thing I hate about sports like these (were you can win a ton of medals) is that it is so much easier to become a legend while people who win for example three straight times at judo might actually be better or more dominating.

They also didn't almost lose because of Phelps, he had the lead in the beginning. I'm pretty sure he thanked him, but it wasn't even him that got them behind.

Phelphs didnt have the lead at the end of his leg, he was 2nd... Edmon Sulivan was the 1st to touch in World Record Time.

Also, Dutch, c''mon you know im not American... but I agree sometimes I wonder why there is 4 strokes in swimming... like in spirit running... should there be a 100m freestyle run, and a 100m backwards run or a no-hands run ..

[Whiteman]

Probably the only non US guy in this thread.....

dacht het niet...

Phelps should thank Jason Lezack bigtime cause he is the real reason the US won. Not Phelps.
.

Nonsense. Phelps had the 3rd fastest 100m ever, he played a huge role in this victory. You need four good swimmers in a relay and Lezak was the best, but Phelps more than pulled his own weight.


I agree with what you say about the number of medals one can win in certain events to some extent. Had Phelps been from a country with few good swimmers, he would have missed all his relay medals. He would still be a legend (he's just that good), but he probably wouldn't break the record for gold medals.
On the other hand there's much more to becoming a legend than just the number of medals: it depends on the (popularity of the) sport and other circumstances as well (consider Anton Geesink).

[BlackMamba]

i agree, phelps owes lezak for that gold. but imagine the pressure of the other 3 swimmers and they were up to the task.