Sacré Bleu...
I'm favorite and we'll smash U.S.: Bernard
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSSP28868620080807
Thu Aug 7, 2008 12:08pm EDT
By Francois Thomazeau
BEIJING (Reuters) - World record holder Alain Bernard opened the war of words for the Olympic swimming competition on Thursday, stating he was the favorite for the 100 meters freestyle and the French relay squad would "smash" the Americans.
Bernard lowered Pieter van den Hoogenband's world record to 47.50 seconds in March and four of his title rivals have since swum under 48 seconds, making the blue-ribbon event one of the most open on the Beijing program.
Not according to Bernard.
"The 100 meters favorite, it's me," he told journalists in Beijing. "If I didn't believe I was, I wouldn't be here at all.
"I've always said that 10 to 15 swimmers could be on the podium. But physically, I'm on top. I'm fitter than I was at the French championships, fitter than I was at the European championships."
A great fan of double Olympic champion van den Hoogenband, Bernard said the Dutchman, below par in recent months, was far from finished despite having the 13th fastest time this year, 0.87 seconds behind Bernard's world record.
Van den Hoogenband has withdrawn from the 200 freestyle to concentrate on defending his Olympic title.
"He will be there, believe me," Bernard said of the Dutch veteran. "He's going for his third title, and for someone like me, taking part in his first Olympics, it's impressive."
Bernard also said the French relay quartet, in a remark reminiscent of Gary Hall Jr's comments the Americans' would "smash the Australians like guitars" just before the Sydney Olympics, would be one of the teams to beat.
France with a team including Amaury Leveaux, Frederic Gilot and Frederick Bousquet clocked 3:12.54 in June, only 0.08 seconds from the world mark and Bernard was bullish ahead of Sunday's 4x100 freestyle relay heats.
"The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for," Bernard said.
"I'll start my Games in the 4x100 meters freestyle relay final, confident that my pals will have qualified easily.
"If the relay goes according to plans, than we'll be on a roll."
I'm favorite and we'll smash U.S.: Bernard
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSSP28868620080807
Thu Aug 7, 2008 12:08pm EDT
By Francois Thomazeau
BEIJING (Reuters) - World record holder Alain Bernard opened the war of words for the Olympic swimming competition on Thursday, stating he was the favorite for the 100 meters freestyle and the French relay squad would "smash" the Americans.
Bernard lowered Pieter van den Hoogenband's world record to 47.50 seconds in March and four of his title rivals have since swum under 48 seconds, making the blue-ribbon event one of the most open on the Beijing program.
Not according to Bernard.
"The 100 meters favorite, it's me," he told journalists in Beijing. "If I didn't believe I was, I wouldn't be here at all.
"I've always said that 10 to 15 swimmers could be on the podium. But physically, I'm on top. I'm fitter than I was at the French championships, fitter than I was at the European championships."
A great fan of double Olympic champion van den Hoogenband, Bernard said the Dutchman, below par in recent months, was far from finished despite having the 13th fastest time this year, 0.87 seconds behind Bernard's world record.
Van den Hoogenband has withdrawn from the 200 freestyle to concentrate on defending his Olympic title.
"He will be there, believe me," Bernard said of the Dutch veteran. "He's going for his third title, and for someone like me, taking part in his first Olympics, it's impressive."
Bernard also said the French relay quartet, in a remark reminiscent of Gary Hall Jr's comments the Americans' would "smash the Australians like guitars" just before the Sydney Olympics, would be one of the teams to beat.
France with a team including Amaury Leveaux, Frederic Gilot and Frederick Bousquet clocked 3:12.54 in June, only 0.08 seconds from the world mark and Bernard was bullish ahead of Sunday's 4x100 freestyle relay heats.
"The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came here for," Bernard said.
"I'll start my Games in the 4x100 meters freestyle relay final, confident that my pals will have qualified easily.
"If the relay goes according to plans, than we'll be on a roll."
Sacré Bleu... Part Deux
Lezak overhauls French to win relay gold for US
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h3k-Qy2544AEqGFKbpn_KpiLfqyQD92FRBQ80
42 minutes ago
BEIJING (AP) — Jason Lezak outtouched Alain Bernard of France at the wall Monday to give the United States a victory in the 400-meter freestyle relay and keep alive Michael Phelps' bid for eight Olympic gold medals.
Lezak overtook the Frenchman to win in 3 minutes, 8.24 seconds, breaking the world record of 3:12.23 set by the Americans in Sunday's preliminaries.
France took the silver in 3:08.32. Australia earned the bronze in 3:09.91.
Phelps' hopes of breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven golds in a single games appeared doomed when the French took over the lead at the 250 mark. They were 4.03 seconds under world-record pace at 350 meters before Lezak, the oldest American male swimmer at 32, rallied over the closing strokes.
Lezak overhauls French to win relay gold for US
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h3k-Qy2544AEqGFKbpn_KpiLfqyQD92FRBQ80
42 minutes ago
BEIJING (AP) — Jason Lezak outtouched Alain Bernard of France at the wall Monday to give the United States a victory in the 400-meter freestyle relay and keep alive Michael Phelps' bid for eight Olympic gold medals.
Lezak overtook the Frenchman to win in 3 minutes, 8.24 seconds, breaking the world record of 3:12.23 set by the Americans in Sunday's preliminaries.
France took the silver in 3:08.32. Australia earned the bronze in 3:09.91.
Phelps' hopes of breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven golds in a single games appeared doomed when the French took over the lead at the 250 mark. They were 4.03 seconds under world-record pace at 350 meters before Lezak, the oldest American male swimmer at 32, rallied over the closing strokes.
I don't see a problem with what he said. He could have been more humble, but Americans are definitely not ones to be talking about arrogance. If you're going to talk shit though you better back it up, and Bernard did not do that.
Anyone see an interview with Bernard after the match to see what he had to say?
Anyone see an interview with Bernard after the match to see what he had to say?
I will agree with this. Their arrogance as a country is why most countries despise the USA, but they do have a lot to be arrogant about. USA and China are far ahead of the rest of the world in pretty much everything, with Russia probably being the third power country.
Don't disagree that I'm not a fan of arrogance (probably why I liked Barry Sanders so much, at least on the field).
But, this quote, AFTER THE RACE, shows why I do sometimes disdain the French:
"A fingertip did the victory," said Amaury Leveaux, one of the French swimmers. "It is nothing."
I guess it is nothing to take the gold in a truly historic race that will be replayed for months (possibly years). Makes me wonder if 65+ years ago, some Frenchmen were enjoying a morning baguette at a cafe saying, "It's a few German tanks on the streets of Paris, it is nothing."
As for Bernard,
While the Americans whooped it up on deck, Bernard clung to the wall, his head down. The swimmer who had talked confidently of beating the Americans - "smashing" them, some media reported - was the last one to leave the pool.
not really fair to say that the final swimmer from france blew it. he swam the 2nd fastest split of a 4x100 in the sports history. Lezak just drafted him and came out ahead.
shit talk or no shit talk....this was one of the highest points of the olympics.
i think that somehow we havent seen the last of people giving phelps a run for his money.
shit talk or no shit talk....this was one of the highest points of the olympics.
i think that somehow we havent seen the last of people giving phelps a run for his money.
Well, drafting or not, when you overtake the world's #1 100 meter freestyler who started out with almost a full body length lead on you, you've made the Olympic all-time greatest moments list.
The biggest reason why the Frenchman blew it was that "la bouche" wrote a check that "le derriere" didn't cash.
