Eric Moussambani

Éric Moussambani Malonga ( born May 31, 1978) is an Equatorial Guinean freestyle swimmer, who was known for his poor performance at the Summer Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney. He is regarded in his discipline as the worst Olympian of all time.

Career

During the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney Moussambani caused a stir when he was in a time of 112.72 seconds swam the 100 -meter freestyle, which is more than double the world record time and even more than the world record twice the distance, about 200 meters meant.

Moussambani had received his start right at the Olympics on a wildcard of the International Olympic Committee, with the athletes from smaller sporting nations an opportunity to participate in the games should get without having to meet the qualification standards.

In the run Moussambani to play against the people in Niger Karim Bare and the Tajiks Farkhod Oripov. After this, however, were disqualified for a false start, Moussambani denied his race alone. Since, however, could only qualify 16 swimmers for the semi-finals, he was eliminated as 71 and thus last.

In the final part of the competition Moussambani fought with himself and finally figured it out after one minute and 52.72 seconds to the finish. After the race he said that the last 15 meters would have been quite difficult for him.

Only eight months before the Olympic Games Moussambani had learned to swim. Before he came to Sydney, he had never seen a 50 -meter pool. In his home country, he always had completed his training in a 20 -meter pool. In addition, it is reported that he had trained in the absence of a large basin in rivers and other open water.

Participation in the Summer Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 was refused due to visa problems, even though he had increased his personal best to under 57 seconds. He also did not participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

At the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London Moussambani was there again as coach of his country.

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