Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre freestyle
As the Race of the Century (English for Race of the century ) is commonly referred to the men's final of the 200 meters freestyle at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece's capital Athens. It was held in the evening program of the 16th of August in the larger of the two outdoor pools at the Olympic Aquatic Centre. The heats and semi-finals were held the day before.
His special attraction for spectators, journalists and experts moved this race from the composition of its starting field. With Michael Phelps, Pieter van den Hoogenband, Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett were four swimmers to the blocks that had won at that time at least an Olympic gold medal. Together they held seven world records.
The 21- year-old Australian Thorpe, celebrated triple winner at the previous Olympic Summer Games 2000 in his hometown of Sydney, had the world record improved continuously since 1999 and held with 01:44,06 min since the 2001 World Championships in Fukuoka the then current optimum. Michael Phelps was an exceptional talent whose star should rise finally playing these games. He was already a five-time world champion and had secured his first Olympic victory two days before the final in a world record time over 400 meters individual medley. The manufacturer Speedo Swimming articles had also asked him a bonus of one million U.S. dollars in prospect, should he leveled Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals at a single orientation of the competitions. The Dutchman van den Hoogenband stepped up to defend his title because he had Thorpe removed during its home game four years earlier to the Australian fans already had already planned to victory with the new world record and 2004 still standing as an Olympic record time 01:45,35 min. Thorpe's compatriot Hackett finally, who had actually rather specialized in the longer distances, traveled as already double Olmypiasieger and seven-time world champion to Athens; he also held in 1999 for a short time also the world record in the 200 meters freestyle.
Race course
Hackett, Phelps, van den Hoogenband and Thorpe started next to each other on the tracks 2 to 5 The world record holder was wearing his characteristic dark blue body suit with which he was already four years earlier noticed in Sydney. After the start, the four favorites deposed within a few seconds from the rest of the field, only Rick Say was able to keep the first 50 meters, some connection. After this first race of the Dutch quarter before Thorpe applied first; the mean time was 37 hundredths under world record level. On the second track Hackett fell rapidly back, the defending champion, however, was able to extend his lead and now was 1.03 seconds under the world record meantime. Thorpe succeeded then, heranzuschwimmen to the leader, and it developed into a duel, which made clear that Phelps would not be able to intervene in the decision for the gold medal. Was also in the third and therefore last turn van den Hoogenband front, although by now extremely scarce. His lead on the world record time had shrunk back to 54 hundredths. Immediately after the turn drew Thorpe - favored by a powerful push-off - to his rival over, increased his lead on the last 50 meters continuously and ultimately hit with half a body length lead in a new Olympic record time. Even Phelps closed again on van den Hoogenband, but did not reach him.
Result lists
Flow results
There were a total of eight heats, the individual results are listed here summed. Green deposits characterize the 16 time best swimmers that fed into the two semi-finals. The original eight -placed German Starter Jens Schreiber was downgraded later; for him moved by the Spaniards Olaf Wildeboer.
Semi-final results
Green deposits characterize the eight time best athletes of both semi-finals, who entered the final.