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17 years ago today. “Here comes Lezak”

Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:02 pm
Posted by Mstate
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2009
10377 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:02 pm
Probably my favorite Olympic moment. Great call by Hicks and Gaines too. Obligatory can’t believe this was 17 years ago.

Posted by rpg37
Ocean Springs, MS
Member since Sep 2008
53443 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:04 pm to
The veteren overcame a deficit on the anchor to beat the gold medalist in the same event. That was not supposed to happen. Without this, Phelps doesn't break Spitz' gold medal record.
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
135123 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:05 pm to
A great moment for the Americans no doubt. Gave me chills.
Posted by Teddy Ruxpin
Member since Oct 2006
40522 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:19 pm to
Every time I watch it the French lead seems a little bigger and impossible to overcome than the last.
Posted by WestCoastAg
Member since Oct 2012
149335 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:41 pm to
Top 3 American Olympic moment
Posted by SoFla Tideroller
South Florida
Member since Apr 2010
38603 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 4:58 pm to
I remember that and yelling at the TV.


(The worst part of that is it was 17 years ago. Good Lord)
Posted by IAmNERD
Member since May 2017
23477 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 5:10 pm to
Such an awesome race. I remember where I was when I was watching it.
Posted by Jack Ruby
Member since Apr 2014
26341 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 5:17 pm to
When accounting for the call by Gaines and Hicks, the history, the intensity, and the improbability, it's probably the single greatest moment in American swimming history and possibly US Olympic history
Posted by LSUlefty
Youngsville, LA
Member since Dec 2007
28110 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 5:19 pm to
Maybe my all time favorite Olympic moment.
Posted by MikeyFL
Member since Sep 2010
10089 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 5:21 pm to
There are very few sports moments that give you the same chills 17 years after they originally occurred.

This is one of the few.
Posted by Ostrich
Alexandria, VA
Member since Nov 2011
10103 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 5:28 pm to
One of the best moments in sports I’ve ever seen
Posted by chillygentilly
70122
Member since Aug 2012
2627 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 6:38 pm to
46.06s split, still unreal. Was still the fastest ever until Zhanle beat it in Paris last year.
Posted by MikeD
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2004
8091 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 7:06 pm to
quote:

When accounting for the call by Gaines and Hicks


They did a good job leading up to the race with Rowdy going through the math on everyone’s splits and saying he couldn’t figure out a way the US could win. And then the race played out like they called it until the last 50.
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
107815 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 7:18 pm to
We had a French guy on the team at the time, so all the European guys were piling on the frog train with him

It was fricking electric when he came back. We had just finished our morning team hit and were huddled around our shite tv at the old courts There were only like 3 of us Americans on the team and we made sure to leave or mark on that moment

That will always be a top sports moment for me ever
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 7:23 pm
Posted by Usm Tiger
Hattiesburg
Member since Oct 2017
244 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 7:54 pm to
Its so iconic because you see a man who clearly is outclassed as a swimmer performing beyond his capabilities and overcame to a degree that seems unfathomable. If there are infinite universes this is the only one he was capable of winning that race.
Posted by GeauxPanthers2
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Member since Dec 2024
906 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 8:08 pm to
Isn't it the fastest 100m freestyle still to this day?
Posted by rpg37
Ocean Springs, MS
Member since Sep 2008
53443 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 9:20 pm to
Second fastest now. Pan Zhanle went 45.92 in the 2024 Olympics for China. He set the individual WR in the same race. There was some controversy about it....he failed to even make the A finals last week at Worlds.
Posted by tylercsbn9
Cypress, TX
Member since Feb 2004
66508 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 9:40 pm to
It is one of the all time GOAT calls in sports.
Posted by 610man
Louisiana
Member since Jun 2005
8144 posts
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:01 pm to
Awesome clip, I won't lie I randomly pull this shite up some times
Posted by Lake08
Member since Jun 2023
2778 posts
Posted on 8/12/25 at 8:19 am to
We were at a Mexican restaurant in the bar screaming. Classic
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