Michael Phelps won the men's 100 meters butterfly by one stroke to collect his fifth gold medal of the Games. That with two bronzes allowed him to join Americans Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi as the only swimmers to win seven medals at an Olympics. Phelps beat American team mate Ian Crocker on the final stroke to win gold in 51.25 seconds. Crocker clocked 51.29. With just one more swimming event left for him at the Games, Phelps could go into the record books with Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin in 1980 as the only people to win eight medals at a single Olympics. But, Phelps has decided not to swim the relay final Saturday, so his good friend Ian Crocker can swim instead and possibly win a gold. The wiiner of the 100 meter butterfly was suspose to swim in the relay final, but Phelps wants Ian to have a chance at the gold. Phelps would still get a medal (if the relay team medals) because he swam in the relay preliminaries. "Michael is already assured whatever medal the relay wins tomorrow night," said Phelps's coach Bob Bowman. Phelps said giving up his place was tough but the best decision for the team. "Ian is one of the greatest relay swimmers in the U.S. team and he wasn't feeling too well in the freestyle relay," he said. "But I am willing to give him a chance to step up tomorrow night and hopefully win that relay. "We came into this meet as a team and we're going to leave it as a team. Phelps has won gold in the 200 and 400 individual medley, 100 and 200 butterfly and 4x200 freestyle relay. He has also collected bronzes in the 200 freestyle and 4x100 freestyle relay. The 100 butterfly brought him his seventh Olympic medal, matching the total achieved by Spitz in 1972 and a third American Matt Biondi in 1988. His Olympics over, Phelps is now looking forward to indulging in some fast food -- hamburgers, fries and apple pie. "It's a good thing to be able to sit back and relax a little but when tomorrow's final comes I will be in the stands and cheering as hard as I can for the U.S. team," he said.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Phelps wins fifth gold medal
Michael Phelps won the men's 100 meters butterfly by one stroke to collect his fifth gold medal of the Games. That with two bronzes allowed him to join Americans Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi as the only swimmers to win seven medals at an Olympics. Phelps beat American team mate Ian Crocker on the final stroke to win gold in 51.25 seconds. Crocker clocked 51.29. With just one more swimming event left for him at the Games, Phelps could go into the record books with Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin in 1980 as the only people to win eight medals at a single Olympics. But, Phelps has decided not to swim the relay final Saturday, so his good friend Ian Crocker can swim instead and possibly win a gold. The wiiner of the 100 meter butterfly was suspose to swim in the relay final, but Phelps wants Ian to have a chance at the gold. Phelps would still get a medal (if the relay team medals) because he swam in the relay preliminaries. "Michael is already assured whatever medal the relay wins tomorrow night," said Phelps's coach Bob Bowman. Phelps said giving up his place was tough but the best decision for the team. "Ian is one of the greatest relay swimmers in the U.S. team and he wasn't feeling too well in the freestyle relay," he said. "But I am willing to give him a chance to step up tomorrow night and hopefully win that relay. "We came into this meet as a team and we're going to leave it as a team. Phelps has won gold in the 200 and 400 individual medley, 100 and 200 butterfly and 4x200 freestyle relay. He has also collected bronzes in the 200 freestyle and 4x100 freestyle relay. The 100 butterfly brought him his seventh Olympic medal, matching the total achieved by Spitz in 1972 and a third American Matt Biondi in 1988. His Olympics over, Phelps is now looking forward to indulging in some fast food -- hamburgers, fries and apple pie. "It's a good thing to be able to sit back and relax a little but when tomorrow's final comes I will be in the stands and cheering as hard as I can for the U.S. team," he said.
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