History held up well for 36 years under all sorts of inspired threats to Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in one Olympics.
Saturday morning, it had to wait a little longer.
When it finally gave way, there was a moment or two of hesitation by spectators at the Water Cube.
Why? Because it was not immediately clear that Michael Phelps had won his seventh gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. In fact, it looked as though Milorad Cavic of Serbia had out-touched him at the wall in a heart-stopping finish to their duel in the 100-meter butterfly.
A victory by a hundreth of a second.
Or was it? Cavic’s coach “questioned” the finish but did not file an official protest. It’s unlikely that a protest would have been heard because it’s next to impossible to overrule a touchpad with a camera-angle replay.
In one slow-motion replay it did appear that Cavic touched first. But in yet another isolated replay, it looks as if Phelps won.
It was that close.
Phelps set an Olympic record with a time of 50.58 seconds to Cavic’s 50.59. Andrew Lauterstein of Australia took the bronze in 51.12, and the reigning world record-holder, Ian Crocker of the U.S., was fourth in 51.53.
Even Phelps didn’t know he had won and tied Spitz’s mark, which had been regarded as virtually untouchable. Like the rest of the crowd, Phelps was in suspense until the times flashed up on the scoreboard. When they went up, he pumped his arm in victory.
“I had to take my goggles off first to make sure the one was next to my name,” Phelps said.
The view from the top of the Olympic podium was clear and sweet.
“When you see quotes in the paper saying no one will ever tie or break this record, it shows you anything’s possible,” Phelps said. “When you put your mind to something, anything is possible.”
He was repeating himself a bit — just as he has in the pool. This was the first of his seven gold medals here that did not come in a world-record time.
As if he will care about that.
So what was running through his head?
“It was a little bit of everything,” he said. “Relief, excitement and everything.
“I was starting to hurt a little bit with the last 10 meters. That was my last individual race, so I was just trying to finish as strong as I could.”
It was reminiscent of the 100 fly finish at Athens four years ago, where Crocker appeared to have the race won but Phelps got him at the wall by 0.04.
“I actually thought when I did take that half-stroke, I thought I lost the race there, but I guess that was the difference in the race,” Phelps said.
“My last two Olympics I’ve been able to nail my finishes, and it’s been by four one-hundredths and one one-hundredth. I’m happy and kind of at a loss for words.”
Cavic had no words. Clearly perturbed at losing by a fingertip, he stormed away.
Crocker said:
“It was a tight one. I saw my short differential between getting a medal or not, but then I realized Michael’s was pretty close too. I’m really glad that he came out on top.
“It was everything that an Olympic final should be. It doesn’t matter who’s in the heats, you just have to get out and race, and it’s anybody’s game. It was one of the more intense races that I’ve been in, which makes it a great way to end the meet.”
Phelps could overtake Spitz in one more day. Phelps will swim the third leg — the butterfly leg — of the 4×100 medley relay Sunday morning with a chance to set himself apart in Olympic history with eight golds.
His seventh gold also moved him ahead of Spitz in one sense, considering Phelps’ seven golds came with five wins in individual events and two relays. Spitz got to seven on the basis of four individual events and three relays, all achieved in record times.
Spitz, who won his golds in 1972, was not on hand. His lawyer said he was at home in Los Angeles.
While the medley relay figures to be nothing more than a coronation, Phelps isn’t ready to talk about No. 8.
“It’s not over yet,” he said. “I really think the Australian team looks great for the relay. It’s going to be a race.”
