Their names are forever linked now, part of the lore of the Olympics.
First there was Michael Phelps, indomitable, defeating Ian Crocker in Friday’s 100-meter butterfly to win the gold medal and the right to swim that leg in Saturday night’s 400-meter medley relay.
Then there was Crocker, learning that Phelps was stepping aside to let him swim the butterfly in the relay and thinking, at first, that he should refuse the stunning offer.
“I didn’t want to do it,” Crocker said Saturday. “I felt I hadn’t earned it. It was tugging at me: What should I do in that situation? When you looked at it in black and white, he beat me. That’s the way it is. But when you broke it down, there were a lot of gray areas.”
For instance:
– Phelps had beaten Crocker, the world record-holder in the 100 fly, by a mere 4/100ths of a second.
– Crocker was far more experienced than Phelps in relays.
– Crocker had better starts than Phelps in relays.
– And, not insignificantly, Crocker would not be taking a medal from Phelps, who had guaranteed himself one by swimming in the medley relay semifinal.
Those facts helped convince Crocker to finally accept Phelps’ offer.
In the hours preceding the race, he was a picture of concentration. “He was determined,” said Bob Bowman, Phelps’ personal coach, a men’s team assistant and one of Crocker’s suitemates in the Olympic Village. “I wouldn’t say he was nervous. He just seemed to be wanting to get himself ready.”
More Top Picks Best Camera Bags For Photographers
Saturday night Crocker did the convincing by posting the second-fastest butterfly leg in history–a tick slower than the record he set last year– as the U.S. 400-meter medley relay set a world-record of 3 minutes 30.68 seconds to win the gold.
Phelps watched the final from the front row of the athletes’ seats on the pool deck, cheering loudly and urging the team on.
“Being part of the team in the stands, especially on the deck, that was exciting,” Phelps said. “I was able to lead a few cheers, and I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be on the other side of the sport.”
Phelps ended his remarkable week with six golds and two bronzes, a total that matched the single-Games record of eight won by Soviet gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin at the boycotted Moscow Olympics of 1980.
Phelps also received an unofficial award.
His teammates turned toward him, raised their arms and pointed in his direction in the universal gesture that says, “You the man.”
“He gave me a great opportunity, and I wanted to take full advantage of it,” Crocker said. “I think both Michael and I agree that’s what happened.”
Aaron Peirsol, who opened the race by setting a 100-meter backstroke world record of 53.45, said: “[Phelps] said it best, man. I mean, we’re a team. What he did, that’s what a team’s all about. This is what happens when a team gets together, when they understand the sacrifices they [have to] make for the best of the team.”
On the final night of swimming competition in Athens, Jenny Thompson came up short in her last chance at an individual gold, placing seventh in the 50 freestyle. Later, however, she became the winningest U.S. female Olympian ever when the 400 medley relay team earned a silver to Australia’s gold. That gave Thompson 12 medals.
Larsen Jensen of the U.S. also finished a surprising second to Australia’s Grant Hackett in the 1,500 freestyle.
But it was Phelps’ week, and he finished it relaxed and unpressured.
Saturday he finally broke training, eating double cheeseburgers for both breakfast and lunch. When he arrived at the Olympic Aquatic Center, he was just another spectator carrying a little flag.
“What Michael has done met my expectations and his,” Bowman said. “But Michael’s young [just 19]. He’ll be back. So maybe this is just the first chapter in a long career.”
Added Phelps: “I did something no one in the sport of swimming had done before. I didn’t want to become a second anyone. I wanted to be the first Michael Phelps. Tonight I did that.”
Phelps only added to his legacy by stepping aside for Crocker in the medley relay.
Leading off was Peirsol, who already held the world record in the 200 backstroke. He was followed Brendan Hansen, the world record-holder in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Crocker, another world record-holder, was next. And anchoring was Jason Lezak, the American record-holder in the 100 free.
“We’re not superstars,” Hansen said. “But we feed off each other. So the adrenaline level when we went out was just so high.”
“We just had that vibe,” Crocker said. “When we stepped out, we knew we were going to do something special.”
Peirsol certainly did. His world-record swim gave the U.S. a lead of nearly one second. Hansen pushed that lead to 1.54 seconds. Crocker raised it to 2.56 seconds and Lezak brought the team home 2.94 seconds ahead of runner-up Germany. When they reached Phelps, Crocker walked over and hugged him.
“When he gave me that big hug, it just seemed there were so many emotions,” Phelps said. “I’m proud of giving someone like Ian another chance. I felt I was part of that race. I couldn’t be more happy for him.”