So claimed Alain Bernard, whose French team was going to beat Michael Phelps and the USA in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay in 2008, ruining Phelps’ quest for a record haul of eight gold medals in one summer. And Bernard had a comfortable lead as he hit the water for the anchor leg.
“Even Rowdy Gaines, generally the eternal Team USA optimist, didn’t see how the Americans could pull it off,” wrote Olivier Poirier-Leroy for Your Swim Book.
Then this happened, in the words of NBC’s Dan Hicks as it happened live …
“HERE COMES LEZAK!