Sports Radio Service


		Mark Spitz displayed class and not sour grapes By Ken Gimblin August 16, 2008

	SAN PALOU BRAZIL--It might have been close by ten-thousandth of a second on Friday night watching from a Brazilian tavern the 2008 Olympics in Beijing but for all to see it was just an eye lash of a decision that was made in awarding U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps his seventh gold medal in the 100 meter butterfly. All mouths dropped to the ground in watching Phelps edge it out against Serbia's Milorad Cavic. Throughout the 100 meter on this particular set of laps it was tight. Phelps who had just at the last fraction of a second extended his arms to hit the wall and was ruled the winner of the 100-meter. Cavic was shocked and disappointed and looking from four sets of replays it appeared that Cavic had just got to the wall target to win the gold but the judges ruled in Phelps favor which shocked him too. Phelps clinched his fists of joy exhaulted and splashed the water with his fists in celebration. Phelps win puts him at a virtual tie with 1972 Munich games swimmer Mark Spitz who holds seven gold medals and praised Phelps as one of the greatest Olympic athletes to walk the planet, "it goes to show you not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he's maybe the greatest athlete of all time" Spitz said after the race. Spitz was labeled bitter by critics regarding his reaction to not being invited to this year's Olympic games, not being classy and showing that he had sour grapes not being invited to see history in Beijing on Friday night. Spitz took it all in stride and explained that he thought that after all he's done and that Phelps was closing in on his record that he would get an invite to at least see and congratulate Phelps in person if he was to tie his record. Moderated by NBC's Bob Costas after the race Phelps and Spitz were interviewed live and Spitz couldn't have been more gracious, classy and forthcoming in congratulating the aw shucks swimmer from the U.S. team. Phelps explained his successes in the race for tying Spitz' record by saying his coach, his conditioning, diet and training got him this far, "dream as big as you can anything is possible, Iam in sort of a dream world, sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it's real." said Phelps Phelps is not done yet he has one more climb on Sunday and if he can break Spitz' record that day he will have topped his best act for last. Phelps knows the pressure is on, he has a streak going now and wants to keep it going and you can bet he will get that call from Spitz again if he can break his record, "I'm so proud of what he's able to do. I did what I did and it was my day in those set of circumstances. For 36 years it stood as a benchmark, I'm just pleased that somebody was inspired by what I had done. He's entitled to every second of what's occurring to him now. I feel a tremendous load off my back." Spitz said. The Serbians protested the decision and it did appear that Cavic did in fact hit the wall just a fraction ahead of Phelps but after reviewing the replays the Serbians chief of mission of all sports Brainslav Jevtic agreed with the judge’s decision, "we filed a protest but it is already over. They examined the video and I think the case is closed. The video says (Phelps) finished first." Jetvic said. Jamie Olsen who is the USA Swimmers spokesperson said the review was slowed down to a ten thousandth of a second to make sure that Phelps touch first. All parties concerned were satisfied that Phelps finished up first and thus the seventh straight gold medal Ken Gimblin is in San Palou and is also doing commentary on the Beijing Olympics for Sportstalk.