The men’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay last night was one of the more exciting swimming races I have ever watched. Michael Phelps got the Americans off to a good lead, which the second and third legs stretched a bit farther. But Klete Keller had to dive in for the final leg knowing that Ian Thorpe (the Thorpedo, the best middle-distance freestyler around at the moment) would be in the pool less than 2 seconds after him. Talk about pressure! Thorpe closed the gap with the first 50 meters, but Keller somehow found the strengh to keep him at bay for three more lengths of the pool, and touched the wall first by 13 thousandths of a second. Wow. I knew the outcome ahead of time because I had checked ESPN (such is life when they broadcast on tape delay — it’s hard to avoid hearing results), but watching was still a thrill.
I got major deja vu when I read the first sentence sarah (read my d.). I didn’t actually know the outcome. I had to keep looking away because I couldn’t stand to watch!