After a silver medal finish in the 100-meter breaststroke last week in Sydney, former Virginia swimmer Ed Moses seized the Olympic gold Saturday as a member of the 4x100 medley relay team that smashed the world record by more than a second.
Moses, Lenny Krayzelburg, Ian Crocker and Gary Hall Jr. finished in 3 minutes, 33.73 seconds, obliterating the previous record of 3:34.84 set by the American team in Atlanta. Moses swam the second leg and extended the American lead to almost a full body length before handing off to Crocker, who swam the butterfly. Moses recorded the fastest breaststroke split time in Olympic history and became the first man in history to swim the leg under one minute at 59.84.
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"Ed was a truly key swimmer in this race," said Virginia coach Mark Bernardino, who coached Moses before he gave up his college eligibility in May. "We knew the Australians had a stronger butterfly and freestyle and that it would be important that Ed open up a good lead and provide a cushion. He did just that."
The Americans led by just 0.4 seconds when Moses entered the pool. By the time he finished his leg, the lead had grown to two seconds.
"Many people think that swimming is an individual sport but so many swimmers rise to another level as part of a team," Bernardino said. "I know that's the type of performance Ed is capable of."
"It is so exciting," said Moses' mother Sissy yesterday, back from Sydney barely three hours.
"All the people to see him coming into the wall... it's wonderful," she said. "He was so excited he could barely speak. He said to me after the relay, 'Mom, the feeling is unbelievable. To swim as fast as I did; it's unbelievable.'"
Moses will return to the University this fall and start school second semester as a third year. He is ineligible to compete in NCAA meets because of endorsement money he has received but will continue to train for national and international meets.
By winning the 4x100 medley, the United States prevented Australia from taking gold in all three men's relay events. The Australians, a second and a half behind, settled for silver. Germany grabbed the bronze.
The 4x100 relay capped off an outstanding Olympics for U.S. swimming. American men and women broke a combined 31 records (four World, 12 American and 10 Olympic). In the highly touted medal race with Australia, the Americans won, 33 medals to 18.
Bernardino also expressed dismay at the media's tendency to present Moses' individual silver medal in the 100 breaststroke as a disappointment.
"I'm appalled at some of the media's treatment [of his finish],"[of his finish]," he said. "I think it's a great honor and I am just as happy that he got to be a part of this relay. He provided a great performance. He is just ecstatic beyond all belief."
U.S. men advance to soccer semis
Former Cavaliers Jeff Agoos, Chris Albright, Ben Olsen and the rest of the U.S. men's soccer team squeaked by Japan on penalty kicks Saturday to earn a berth in their first-ever Olympic semifinal. It is the first time the American men have advanced beyond the first round at the Games.
The United States tied the Czech Republic 2-2, Cameroon 1-1 and defeat Kuwait 3-1 in the opening rounds of competition. The team defeated Japan only after 90 minutes of regulation play and two sudden-death overtime periods. Substitute Sasha Victorine replaced Albright in overtime and put a penalty kick past goalie Seigo Narazaki to seal the win for the United States. Five Americans, including Agoos, scored in the shootout before Japan missed a kick. Josh Wolff and Victorine capitalized on the opportunity to secure the win, 5-4.
Women to play for gold
The U.S. women's soccer team, led by former Virginia coach April Heinrichs, defeated Brazil 1-0 in the Olympic semifinals and will face Norway in the gold medal match Thursday. The win was surrounded by controversy, however. After U.S. forward Tiffany Milbrett collided with the Brazilian goalkeeper, Mia Hamm faced a wide-open goal and converted the only score of the game.
Swiss referee Nicole Petignat did not call a foul on Milbrett and allowed the goal.
"The game can be a matter of inches," Heinrichs told MSNBC after the game. "It can be left up to just something out of your control. We kept our head, and at the end of the day, we find ourselves advancing, and that feels terrific"
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