article by Nicola Pucci
Probably the men’s 200 meter butterfly race at the Sydney 2000 Olympics is not the most eagerly awaited by professionals and enthusiasts; much less the winner, the American Tom Malchow, although a swimmer of absolute international standing, can be considered one of the most representative figures of the five-circle event. Nonetheless, the test which debuts with batteries on September 18th at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre marks a historic moment not only in the Australian edition of the Games, but in the entire history of the Olympics.
In fact, a young American, just over 15 years old, Michael Phelps, appears at the starting blocks (youngest swimmer at the Olympics since Ralph Flanagan, 13 years old in Los Angeles 1932), who over the course of the next four Olympic events would become the most successful athlete ever with 22 medals. The Baltimore champion he earned the chance to participate in the Olympics thanks to second place in the selection trials swimming in 1’57″48, behind Malchowwho is the reigning world championship bronze medalist as well as silver four years earlier in Atlanta (behind the Russian Denis Pankratov) and world record holder with a time of 1’55″18, achieved in June in Charlotte, and is the logical favorite for the Sydney race.
The lot of participants is, to be honest, of the highest level, with the presence of Pankratov himselfwho was also world champion in 1994 in Rome, Ukrainian Denys Sylantyevwho is a world championship gold medalist, in fact, in Perth in 1998, the Frenchman Frank Esposito (also bronze in Barcelona 1992) and the other Russian Anatoly Polyakovwho won the last two European events in Istanbul and Helsinki, head a list that is made up of 46 competitors.
After Sylantyev won the fourth heat with a time of 1’56″42 ahead of the German Rupprath, here the official debut of Phelps who in the following series, with the third best time of 1’57″30, beats some of the main medal candidates, namely Polyakov, Esposito and Pankratov, showcasing uncommon qualities. Immediately afterwards it’s Malchow’s turn, who in 1’56″25, which is a new Olympic record, confirms that he is determined to dispel the taboo that wants him placed in the big events but never winning.
This feeling is even more highlighted by the semi-finals whereafter Sylantyev’s victory in the first in 1’56″81 ahead of the Australian Norris and the British Parry who qualified for the decisive act, Malchow lowers the Olympic limit again to 1’56″02leaving behind a fierce platoon of expected protagonists, in order Polyakov, Phelps himself, Esposito and Pankratov, who enters the showdown to confirm himself as Olympic champion with the last time.
The final is uncertain and is decided in the last pool when Malchow, only third at the turn, finds the strength to come back and overtake Sylantyev, taking away the gold medal in 1’55″35, which is obviously an Olympic record, with the Ukrainian in any case to silver with an excellent 1’55″76 and the surprising Australian Norris who climbs to the third step of the podium, 1’56″17, ahead of Polyakov and Phelps who finished in an honorable fifth position in the first Olympic final.
It will be done again later, with due interest, but what matters this time is that Malchow finally puts the gold medal around his neck, breaking the curse of eternal placement. Yes, why do you want to know all about it? At the subsequent editions of the World Championships, Fukuoka 2001 and Barcelona 2003, he won silver and then bronze, again in the 200 butterfly. So, just to please.