Relay Story Was Wrong: Michael Phelps Not Guaranteed a Slot on US 400-meter Free Relay Team -- August 5, 2004
By Phillip Whitten
PHOENIX, August 5. THREE-TIME Olympian Dr. Gary Hall today retracted his statement that Eddie Reese, head men's US Olympic swim coach, had changed his mind about the process his coaching staff will use for choosing the third and fourth members of the US men's 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay team that will contend for gold in Athens.
Dr. Hall, the father of three-time Olympian Gary Hall, Jr., was the source of the story that appeared on August 3rd. This writer was the author of that story. Dr. Hall also spoke with ESPN Magazine, which ran an additional story containing more quotes.
"I was totally wrong," Dr. Hall told SwimInfo today. "I apologize to Coach Reese, members of the relay team and my son. The information I received did not come from Gary, Jr. I did not realize that my information was wrong."
On July 31, Coach Reese announced that the third through sixth finishers at the US Trials -- Gary Hall, Jr., Neil Walker, Nate Dusing and Gabe Woodward -- will have an opportunity to earn one of the final two spots on the USA 400-meter freestyle relay in Athens.
These four swimmers will swim the prelims of the relay on the morning of August 15. Reese will then collaborate with his assistant coaches -- Dr. Dave Salo, Jon Urbanchek and Bob Bowman -- to select the two swimmers who will join Jason Lezak, who set an American record of 48.17 at the US Trials, and second place-finisher Ian Crocker.
"We have four guys that are swimming in the prelims," Reese said at the time. "If we have all four go very fast, it'd be hard for Michael (Phelps) to be on that relay."
Reese defined "fast" as "under 48.5 seconds," which is faster than any of them has ever swum, as well as faster than Phelps' best. Three of the four swimmers, however, would have the advantage of a relay start, which is worth about seven-tenths of a second.
Phelps won the 100 free at the US Spring Nationals in February in a personal-best 49.05 seconds. That time would have placed him second in Long Beach, just ahead of Ian Crocker's 49.06. Phelps did not swim the event at the US Trials.
