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Journalism of Courage
His races have ended the way they began: With a splash and with the goals and the feelings of a friend and teammate equally as important as his own. That’s right, everybody.
Surprise! The Speedo deal, the million-dollar bonus, the magazine covers, the prime-time TV and the endorsement contracts make it easy for Michael Phelps to act magnanimous. That’s different from being magnanimous. ‘‘We came into this meet as a team. We’re leaving this meet as a team,’’ Phelps said.
With that pronouncement, Phelps sent a mini-shockwave through the Olympic Aquatics Centre, the place where he had already etched his place in history. It’s a good thing his place in history is secure, because now, thanks to the decision, Phelps won’t swim in Saturday night’s 400-meter medley — an Olympic race the United States has never lost.
Ian Crocker, the man to whom Phelps lost the 100 butterfly at the world championships last August, the man whose picture Phelps taped to his wall as inspiration, will swim instead. The announcement came after Phelps won his fifth gold medal. His win in the 100 butterfly earned Phelps a spot on Saturday night’s 400 medley team.
It was an amazing twist after an amazing win in the butterfly, where Phelps used his 6-foot-7 wingspan to touch the wall ahead of Crocker. But with the touch for gold and the medley spot in hand, the machinations cranked into high gear.
Phelps’ coach, Bob Bowman, initiated a discussion about Phelps’ relinquishing his place in the relay. Phelps stands to get a medal, regardless. Still, getting Phelps to give up the water seemed the tough sell. It may take time to know how much coercion was necessary. For the record, the decision is an elegant solution to get Crocker his gold — and to get US coach Eddie Reese off the hook. It has been a tough week of managing relay spots, with US sprinter Gary Hall whipping up whitewater over not being used in the 400 freestyle relay. No one doubts Phelps’ decision was the move of a champion.
(New York Times)
