For 17 years it remained there, an ugly scar from an ugly time. It jumped off the pages of countless record books, a stark reminder of those days when drugs reigned in swimming.
The world record in the women’s 800-meter freestyle relay was held by East Germany, whose mad scientists produced swimmers unlike any others. That was admitted after the fall of the Berlin Wall, but still the record stood, stark testament to the value of cheating and chemistry.
It stood, mocking all who attempted to break it, until Wednesday night at the Athens Olympic Aquatic Center, where four Americans took it down and won the gold medal in a stunning 7 minutes 53.42 seconds 17 years to the day after the record had been set. Little was expected of the U.S. women at these Games, but they smashed the East German mark by a yawning 2.05 seconds and finally wiped the record books clean.
“It’s really good to get that record off the books,” coach Mark Schubert said. “It burned a lot of people. We know the reason why and we’re very proud to have that record back.”
“We’re very glad to see it gone, glad to see it gone in such a spectacular way,” agreed Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps’ personal coach and an assistant on the men’s team.
The American women proved they know how to deal with pressure, breaking open their relay early thanks to a strong opening leg by Natalie Coughlin. Carly Piper followed, then Dana Vollmer and Kaitlin Sandeno. They swam 2.55 seconds better than runner-up China.
“One of the officials in drug testing told me that was an East German record, and we’re as clean as could be and so happy,” Sandeno said.
“It was amazing. I’m still trying to find words for it. I still don’t think it’s sunk in that I have a gold medal and a world record.”
But the Games have been no fun for Brendan Hansen, who came in having set world records at last month’s trials in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke. He was a major reason men’s coach Eddie Reese said this would be the best U.S. team since 1976, but neither Hansen nor the team has lived up to the hype.
There were no U.S. representatives in Wednesday’s men’s 100 free final, won by Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands.
But the biggest U.S. disappointment surely has been Hansen, who entered the Games openly stating that his goal was three golds.
In the 100 breaststroke Sunday, he swam nearly a full second slower than he had at the trials and finished second to Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima. Then, Wednesday in the 200, he swam 1.83 seconds slower than he had at the trials while finishing a fading third to Kitajima.
“It’s something that really bothers me,” Reese said of those performances.
They also clearly bothered Hansen, who followed his performance by spreading the blame.
“It’s so much pressure you guys put on us, it’s tough for us to compete,” he said. “I really believe … the reason for no records and stuff like that is pressure.
“It’s tough to find the fun. There is a lot of pressure involved.
“I was fully tapered and ready to go for the trials. I had to work my butt off just to get here, more than most people have to. … I was so emotionally ready for the trials, and to come to an Olympics six weeks later is a tough thing for a swimmer.”
Asked about that, Bowman said: “I don’t have any misgivings about the timing of our trials. That’s not a factor. The pressure of this meet is a factor. Some people are able to step up. Our trials are at a very high level. But this is another animal.”
Said Schubert: “I think the Olympics are all about eyeball-to-eyeball racing. We had some great performances in the trials from people who were way ahead and very comfortable being there. We have to learn to race when it’s close.”
