The Greatest Relay Race Ever!

The most amazing relay performance I've ever seen! That's what the American quartet of Michael Phelps, Garret Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones, and Jason Lezak pulled off in the 4 x 100 Free Relay at the Beijing Olympics last night. [Shown below are Weber-Gale and Phelps.]

This event exceeded expectations. It was better than USA's Bruce Hayes coming from behind to nip Germany's legendary Michael Gross ("The Albatross") by 0.04 seconds in the 4 x 200 relay in 1984 in LA. Better than USA's Klete Keller defeating Australia's great Ian Thorpe by a similar margin in the same event in 2004 in Athens.

Five countries broke the existing world record. Australia's Eamon Sullivan set a world record in the 100 free (47.24) leading off. But the main drama was in lanes four and five between the USA and France. France was heavily favored, and had the lead going into the final led with current world record holder Alain Bernard anchoring for the French. (Before the race, Bernard had unwisely said: "The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for.")

Jason Lezak (left) anchored for the Americans, diving in 0.69 seconds behind Bernard. Bernard churned a lightning fast 21.27 first fifty to extend the French lead to 0.82 seconds at 350 meters. But Lezak stayed with him. At 375 meters, Lezak began to reel in the world recorder. At 398 meters, Lezak caught Bernard and got his hand to the wall first to defeat the French by 0.08 seconds. It broke the world record by an astounding four seconds.

In earning the gold medal, Lezak split 46.06 for 100 meters, far and away the fastest relay time ever. Simply amazing.

Already swimming aficionados are changing Chuck Norris jokes to Jason Lezak ones. Here are some examples (from T-Ravi):

• When Jason Lezak dives into the water, he does not get wet - the water gets Lezaked.
• Jason Lezak only swims through the water because he considers walking on top of it too pretentious.
• Jason Lezak taught Moses how to turn water into blood - using French swimmers for examples.
• Big meets taper for Jason Lezak.
• Touch pads reach for Jason Lezak.
• Jason Lezak does not swim the backstroke for fear that the laser-like force of his steely gaze would damage aircraft overhead.
• E equals mass x the speed of Jason Lezak squared.

USA's Head Coach Eddie Reese (who was featured in this blog last month) said: "There's never been [an anchor swim like that] in my memory. "Not running down somebody who holds the world record, who's on their game. That was incredible. ... It has to be in the unbelievable category. That's the biggest word I know."

Comments

[Alex von Oech]

Being the swimming aficionado you are...can you please list a few reasons why world records are being broken ('smashed') in seemingly ever other swimming event?

I'm a big track and field fan, where WRs actually means something, as there are only a handful set every five years.

[Roger von Oech]

There are a variety of reasons. Here are a few:

1) Every elite swimmer on the planet knows that in an Olympic year, he or she will train very hard and have a focus on two key meets: their nation's trials and the Olympics themselves.

2) As more money is available to the sport, more and more of the elite athletes prolong their careers. Since performance clauses are often part of their contracts, they are motivated to train at a high level.

3) More ideas are being discovered about effective stroke technique.

4) Strength training and supplements. Just about every athlete takes some kind of protein and/or strength building supplement (which are legal).

5) Much has been written about the Speedo LZR suit. It does seem to have a "streamlining" effect on the athletes.

6) Movement away from the "one approach fits all" relationship between coach and swimmers, and much more toward very customized coaching with individual swimmers.

[Paul Sloane]

It was a fantastic performance and great entertainment. But can it teach us anything about creativity? Please take a look at my blog posting where I argue that sport in general can teach us about execution and motivation but not much about creativity or innovation.

http://www.bqf.org.uk/innovation

Paul Sloane

[Roger von Oech]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I'm of two minds about your comment. Part of me says that, yes, sports is entertainment and what else does it relate to?

With respect to my post about the 4 x 100 relay: There are many innovations present in the competition: beginning with different stroke technique (compared with even three Olympiads ago) to different push-off techniques (notice how long Phelps -- and the now the others -- are staying underwater doing dolphin kicks) to the design of the LZR swim suits and the design for pool (wave-deadening gutters and lane lines and deep water).

For me, though, the key thing in innovation is execution. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if you can't get it into action, then it's worth considerably less. Over my lifetime, I've had a lot of ideas, but the ones that have really made a difference were the ones that I had to fight had for to make happen. Sometimes when I thought I was down, I'd find the energy to make make more sales call or contact one more person. And sometimes I'd get lucky. Perhaps it's projection on my part, but I could identify with the pluck of the winners of that relay.

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[Randy Bosch]

I'll never forget your comment about the effect of silicon application to swim goggle manufacture and resultant increased "pain free" (eyes anyway) training time from the first edition of your book!! I've used it innumerable times to illustrate the power of looking beyond the apparant focused study area for applications from other disciplines - and it still works!!
Thanks 25 years later!!

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