Olympian Feats - III

What else is left. I, for one, am wiped out by all this excitement- and "old" people.

Like the marathon champion at 38 years old.


Like 41-year old Dara Torres anchoring the medley relay minutes after winning the silver in the 50 meter, in second by only .01 second.

Dara says she will tell her daughter:

Don't put an age limit on your dreams.

So here I am, Live Blogging as the final swimming race of Beijing 2008 approaches. The medley relay with Michael Phelps in the Butterfly leg. For 36 years Mark Spitz has been "The Man" whose record couldn't be beat. As I sit writing this, the race is minutes away. In order to get the record, Phelps, like Spitz, will depend on a team. He is but 100 meters of the total.

And the commercials end- McDonalds and Budweiser- and we go back to The Cube. Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gaines reminding us that the Americans have never lost this race. But we are told it will be close. Will it be, or is that simply TV announcers building the tension?

They are delayed... now the teams come out. Team Australia and Team USA. Phelps in his Hoodie and the earbuds pumping mental fuel. He has that distant stare that keeps his focus. No emotions visible. Deep breaths on his close-up.

They start.

Team USA at the first turn.

Team USA at the first 100 by Piersol.

Now it’s Hansen. Team USA at 150.

Team Japan at 200.

Phelps is off. Team Australia is leading. Australia at 250.

Phelps pushes- hard. Takes a commanding lead.

Team USA at 300. Its up to Lezak.

350 m- United States.

No contest. World Record. Gold.

Team USA – and Michael Phelps stands alone in Olympic history.

100,000 athletes- only one- Michael Phelps.

16 medals- 14 of them gold- in his career. Eight in these games.

Michael lets it out at last.

WOW!